Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach
Rating T (I guess)
Full summary: The first chapter serves as an introduction. It is an immediate aftermath of the final battle between Ichigo and Aizen at the pinnacle of the winter war. Story afterward has six months pause. It focuses on Ichigo trying to adapt to the post-war world. Not as easy as it first seams, of course, especially since the surviving captains want to make him a captain. And a captain of the Fifth division nonetheless. After a lot of persuading, he agrees, but like always, he gets in way over his head. Caught between the tattered fifth division with morale hitting rock bottom on one side and the chaos of the reconstruction of soul society on the other, will Ichigo be able to come out on top yet again – or will he be driven insane? When the darkness rears its ugly head to threaten the word once more, will Ichigo be able to lead his division to victory – or will darkness claim everything, as all hell breaks loose?
Couples: So far Ichigo/Momo (but not straight of the bat!). Other pairings may come in time.
Mini author note:
"Hollow" – normal talking in the outside world (anywhere other than Ichigo's inner world) and Ichigo talking inside the his inner world
'Hollow' – Ichigo thinking
'Hollow'– Ichigo's inner hollow talking to Ichigo while Ichigo is in the outside world. Ichigo's inner hollow thinking in the inner world. Zanpakutou talking to the shinigami while the shinigami is in the outside world. Zanpakutou thinking in the inner world.
"Hollow" – Ichigo's inner hollow talking inside the inner world. Zanpakutou talking.
(Hope this wasn't too confusing, now let the story begin!)
O-O-O
–– INNOCENCE IS A VIRTUE ––
ARC I - TILT THE SKY
Chapter one: The end… or is it?
O-O-O
There was blood everywhere. Ichigo couldn't even tell which belonged to him and which was Aizen's. He knew that things would go bad when Aizen released his bankai while in this new hougyoku-induced hollow form. He tried to push himself up with his right hand. He wasn't moving.
'Oh, yea… I forgot – Aizen cut it off.'
He pushed against the ground with his left hand. The wound on his chest was bleeding intensely. Aizen still had to move, but Ichigo did not dare to hope that the traitorous captain could be dead. He got on his knees, using Tensa Zangetsu as support. He could feel tears flowing down Tensa Zangetsu's face.
"He still isn't dead." Said the zanpakutou.
Ichigo stood in front of Aizen's body. With his left hand, held the blade, now hidden behind the black reaitsu that gushed out of its hilt, as it merged with his hand.
"Not for long." Black reiatsu erupted in a massive burst, enveloping him. His eyes began to glow from the accumulated power illuminated his face. "Mu…" The blade appeared in his hand, raised above his foe. He swung down. He could hear Tensa Zangetsu in his mind, frozen in that one moment, as the ethereal black blade descended downwards.
'This is our final goodbye.'
Eternity in a single moment.
Ichigo could feel the sorrow behind his zanpakutou's words since, in the end, deep inside he felt the same. But both understood what was at stake here. And neither would hesitate.
'Cast away your fears…' Zangetsu whispered, as he began to fade.
'Look forward…'
'Move forth…'
'And never, ever stop…'
'Retreat and you'll only age…' The zanpakutou was already half-gone, his voice echoing like it came from a great distance.
'Hesitation will bring you death…' The form of the Final Getsuga was rapidly disappearing. Already Ichigo's face was revealed, as the wrappings dissipated.
'Let's end this, now!'
That moment passed.
Aizen screamed… The blade made contact… cutting through the earth… through both the heavens and hell altogether...
"…GETSU!"
O-O-O
In the distance, Kurosaki Ishin slowly awoke. Seeing the monstrous wave of destruction heading his way, he braced himself to withstand the force of the Final Getsuga Tenshou.
'Oi, oi! Leave at least some of Rukongai standing… Ichigo…'
Once the massive tidal wave of dust and debris rolled over him, he looked up, only to see the annihilated landscape of what was once the peaceful Rukongai. In the distance, he saw the tiny collapsing form of his son. It was the price of that power… power he knew all too well.
O-O-O
"Pheeeew! Sure am glad to have got away on time!" The man waved his small fan in front of his face, blissfully ignoring the fact that the fan was half-burnt – just like his own body. It was one of many souvenirs he got from his fight with Aizen.
"Knock it off! You're annoying, Kisuke!"
"But, Yoruichi~ …"
"Be quiet, you! I'd slap you if I had any strength left." She pushed herself in a more comfortable position. The number of broken and shattered bones didn't do her any help. "Do you think that was enough to kill him?"
Urahara sighed, his cheerful mask gone, as he clutched the hilt of his shattered zanpakutou, Benihime. "I honestly don't know. After all, every prediction we made turned out incorrect. I'd rather just leave it to Kurosaki-san." With a dead serious face he continued. "If there ever was anyone that could win this fight, it would have to be him. So I'll just believe. Isn't that right, Yamamoto-sōtaichō?"
Yoruichi turned her head to face the leader of the shinigami, as her body was still too weak to move. The wounds covering the sōtaichō's body were horrendous. He had numerous newly formed scars, along with a sill bleeding gut wound on his stomach, but worst still was the damage on his left hand. Even Unohana-taicho couldn't do anything about it – such was the price of the forbidden kidou, the Itto kaso. The hand looked like a piece of charcoal. And if he wasn't careful, it could kill him.
"I'm glad you both survived the destruction of the fake Karakura town, Yamamoto-sōtaichō, Unohana-taichō." Yoruichi said. She looked back in the direction of the battle. "So… Is it finally over?" She almost failed to hear his small sigh of relief, and for the first time in the past one thousand years, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni seemed like an old, broken man, feeling the full brunt of the centuries passed.
O-O-O
(In the human world, among the ruins of the fake Karakura town)
A black tear appeared across the sky. Once stabilized, the figures of eight individuals emerged from it. As they leaped to the ground, they were shocked to see the hellish landscape that the city has become. In spite of reminding themselves that this was not the real Karakura, they were still devastated, as if someone just robbed them of something precious. Despite seeing the three of the four massive pillars still standing, they realized what could be the only possible outcome that would result in such devastation. They started running through what remained of the streets. The redhead was the first to start searching the ruins, using his large sword to quickly move or break large chunks of rock or concrete.
"Quickly! Look for survivors!" Hearing his words, his companions scattered. Just in case there were any surviving arrancar, they moved in groups of two.
One of those groups moved towards the town center. Of the two, the large man pointed at a collapsed building.
"Kotetsu-san."
The person he addressed, Kotetsu Isane, looked in that direction. Instantly, she saw a bloody form of a person half-buried beneath the rubble. Her medical training kicking in, she ran up to the wounded person. It was a woman, badly injured. She had numerous cuts and lacerations covering her body, and her left hand was gone, severed cleanly off. Only by the few remaining shreds of a haori did Isane realize who she was looking at.
Soifon-taichō… What on earth happened here?'
"Can you help her?" The large man asked.
"Sado-kun, I…" She looked at the body of the fallen captain. "Y-yes. Miraculously, she's still alive. But… were the arrancar here this strong…"
Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Rukia and Hanataro were trudging through the crater of a massive cero. Just outside of the ring of devastation, they saw a figure lying in the ground. Rukia immediately recognized her captain.
"Ukitake-taichō!" She ran up to him, checking for signs of life. To her relief, she could feel a faint pulse. "Hanataro!"
O-O-O
Near the riverbank, Ishida Uryuu was trying to help the large captain to breathe. Next to him was Kurotsuchi Nemu, ready to administer any painkillers or healing drugs necessary. She looked at her companion, who was desperately trying to stop the bleeding on the massive chest wound that went all the way from the neck to the navel.
"Nemu-san! Please help me!"
And she wanted to… but remained still. In her eyes there was only sadness. After performing many surgeries under her father's supervision, she could tell whether or not people had a chance for survival.
"Let it go kid…" Ishida was shocked to hear the large captain talk. "It's alright."
" Komamura…taichō."
O-O-O
She was fading in and out of conscience. During those few moments she was aware she realized just how difficult it had become to simply breathe. Her body carried many wounds, but all but one were mostly healed. She had Kira to thank for that. 'Kira-kun…" he was lying nearby, no longer conscious. Her teeth clenched as she felt horrific pain coursing through her chest. It was the wound from Hyourinmaru. She could feel the frozen flesh on the wound's edge, and the stabbing pain with each breath.
"S-shiro-chan…" She managed to call out for him.
The look of shier horror on his face… as he realized what he had done…'Shiro-chan…' She tried to cough, only to choke on her own blood. She tried to move a bit. The world went black, as death crept closer, and her consciousness faded. Thus, she was unaware that someone heard her muffled coughing, unaware of the incredible luck that befell both her and the remaining shinigami – and that luck went by the name of Inoue Orihime…
O-O-O
(Two days later, in Soul Society)
Sōtaichō was holding a regular meeting regarding the aftermath of the winter war. Of the thirteen captains, present were only two, Unohana-taichō and sōtaichō himself along with four fukutaichō, Kira, Renji, Nanao and Nemu. Everyone knew why sōtaicho had called them there, since a large portion of the Rukongai and even little of the Seireitei were damaged during the cataclysmic showdown between Kurosaki Ichigo and the traitor Aizen, therefore making the meeting go smoothly. They revised the records for the reconstruction of Rukongai districts, a task that seemed daunting even to the full might of Seireitei. Now that they were in shambles, it seemed near-impossible. They also reflected on the casualties of war, mourning the losses of Komamura Sajin-taichō and his fukutaichō, Iba Tetsuzaemon. Though the death toll in the real world was minimal, the meeting if two powerhouses like Ichigo and Aizen left hundreds dead in its wake. The biggest death toll was among the numerous unranked shinigami, among who there were most from the first, fourth, fifth and eighth division, who had lost their lives while directing the mass evacuation of the entire east Rukongai.
At the end of the meeting, Captain-commander made a proposition that caught everyone's attention. Before he even realized it, Renji was presented with the position of captain for the seventh division. The Captain-commander was the first to congratulate him on his promotion.
"Due to your exceptional skills and valor shown in battle, I name you Abarai-taichō of the seventh division of the Gotei 13…" The old man tapped the ground with his cane. "Congratulations."
Standing there completely flabbergasted, Renji held his new captain haori in hand. He was caught completely off guard with the sudden captaincy nomination and immediate promotion. Wide eyed, he just stood there as one by one, the shinigami present congratulated him.
O-O-O
(Meanwhile, in the fourth's barracks)
As the sun went down the horizon, Hanataro felt relieved that his shift as Kurosaki's personal medic ended. Just to be on the safe side, he ran another check on Ichigo's injuries. Satisfied that his patient was finally out of mortal danger and at last showing signs of recovery, he exited the room. What he failed to notice though, was that the moment he stepped outside of the room, Ichigo's eyes began to move, as he entered the REM state.
O-O-O
He ran down the length of one of the many skyscrapers in the sideways landscape of his inner world. The desolateness of it made him quiver. It was constantly deteriorating, as one skyscraper after the other collapsed into the black void beneath. There was no one there, neither Zangetsu nor his inner hollow…
'Of course, they are dead…'
(Flashback)
'This is our final goodbye.'
(End flashback)
'Zangetsu…' He continued running, desperate to see anything… See anyone… With every step, the clouds began to turn dark. He looked around himself. He would welcome anything at that moment… even… though a part of him didn't want to admit it… even the hollow.
"Che! You're just saying that… Ichigo!"
'That voice!' Ichigo frantically searched the surrounding area, but couldn't see anyone there.
"Hey! Hollow! Are you there? Answer me!" He turned around, only to see the hollow standing a few feet away from him. Just like Ichigo himself, the hollow had no zanpakutou with him.
"Yo, how's it been… partner?"
"You're-… But… how?" The surprise was clearly evident in Ichigo's eyes. Regaining some of his composure, he asked again. "How are you still alive?"
The hollow just shrugged, and then sat down.
"Who said anything 'bout being alive?" The hollow frowned, his expression dead serious. "I died, you're most likely dead or dying… You even killed Zangetsu, you know? No matter how you look at it, you DID sacrifice him for victory." The look in hollow's eyes was… unlike anything Ichigo had ever seen. If described in human terms, it looked like… like deep apathy. Gone was all the aggression, all the anger. The hollow had truly accepted his death.
"Not that I accuse you or anything…" Now that was totally unlike anything the hollow Ichigo knew – he almost sounded sad. "I lost ninety percent of my power at that moment you know… It really pissed me off too. Look." With that, he raised his hand to his face. Seconds later, there on his face resided a mask. He took it off and began spinning it on his finger. Ichigo immediately recognized it. Bone white on the right half and with three red marks covering the left side… It was the mask he originally had… The mask the way it was when it first appeared on his face, when he emerged from the shattered shaft.
"Ahh… Just forget it. Fate is a bitch in love with irony." Something about the way the hollow said it made Ichigo feel pissed off. In single step, Ichigo got to the hollow, grabbed him by the Shihakushō and pulling him up of the ground. He started shouting in his face.
"What the hell is your problem, damn it!" Disbelief was clearly evident, both in Ichigo's voice and eyes. "HOW THE HELL COULD YOU GIVE UP SO EASILY!" That uninterested stare in the hollow's eyes just pissed him off even more. "I KNOW YOU! FROM THE MOMENT WE MERGED TO FORM THE FINAL GETSUGA!" He shook his head. "MAYBE EVEN LONGER! NOTHING IN THIS WORLD COULD MAKE YOU GIVE UP ON LIVING!" The hollow just stared in to Ichigo's eyes, as if nothing Ichigo said concerned him.
…
…
WHAM!
The hollow was now lying on the ground, his hand on his face. Ichigo grabbed him once more.
"DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU WOULD FIGHT FOR THE CROWN! TO BE THE KING!" his hands were shaking. "THAN WHY DID YOU GIVE UP! WHY!" He tried to punch him again, but this time the hollow managed to grab his hand.
"So, you want to know why, eh?" The hollow sat down again and crossed his legs. "Guess I could tell ya then." He tilted his head a bit. "What was it that you said before… You knew me… from the moment we formed the Final Getsuga?" He sighed. "Then let me ask you something…" Ichigo was shocked to see life return to the eyes of the hollow. He was furious. "THEN HOW COULD YOU ASSUME… THAT YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE TO DO SO, ICHIGO!" The hollow was really furious. "I saw… I SAW WHAT I TRULY WAS! AND IN THAT ONE MOMENT, EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN FROM ME! MY DREAM, MY PRIDE, MY POWER!" just as suddenly as the outburst of anger came, it faded away. "I was just a splinter of your soul that went rogue. My whole existence was an error… And I wanted to cut you down so badly… to take the crown… to be the King… I STILL want to cut you down, I want to do it so badly that my hands still shake with excitement every time I just think about it." Seeing the look on Ichigo's face, he smiled. "No need to worry anymore… That error I spoke of… it's being corrected as we speak." He waved his left hand, as if he was waving good-bye.
Ichigo's eyes widened in horror. The arm was transparent.
"What's with that look, dumb-ass?" He pushed Ichigo away and spread his arms theatrically. "Aren't ya happy? You'll finally get what you've wanted – a hollow-free soul!" his eyes widened in shock as his face collided with Ichigo's fist. The force of the impact forced the hollow into the air. His mask slipped from his grasp and shattered as it hit the ground.
"Am I happy? You idiot… I thought I just said… I'VE SEEN INSIDE YOUR SOUL!" For the first time since the conversation began, the look in the hollow's eyes reflected shock and surprise – this was not something he had expected. "Don't you remember? Tensa Zangetsu said, 'The one I wanted to protect was you.' When we were one… Did you really expect that I wouldn't notice… THAT I WOULDN'T NOTICE YOUR VOICE HIDDEN BEHIND HIS!"
"Ichigo, you-"
"Wrong! We… WE ARE ICHIGO!" The hollow couldn't help but laugh. Ichigo looked so pathetic…
"You moron…" his body rapidly began do become more transparent. His feet already have disintegrated into black reishi. The black mist raised up his body. Below it, nothing remained. As it reached his face, the hollow gave Ichigo his recognizable grin. "Hey, idiot… just so you know…"
The hollow's last words echoed inside Ichigo's mind, shattering all the memories of the evil monster, leaving behind…
'Thanks partner… I owe you one.'
His eyes opened. Inspecting his surroundings, Ichigo found himself unable to figure out his location. Judging by the looks of things he was obviously in a hospital… though the hospital itself may be anywhere – it could be in Soul Society, but it might as well be in the human world. All hospitals looked the same to him. He felt a sensation flow through his right hand – the one that Aizen had cut off.
'I heard of the whole phantom limb thing… Never thought I would get to see what it really meant… Guess Inoue still hasn't returned…'
He tried to get up, but felt his body riddled with pain.
'Okay, that was a seriously stupid thing to do... Wonder what time is it, anyways?'
He looked through the window of the room – it was night. 'Just my luck…' It meant that since the room didn't look like E.R. that there was a small chance that anyone would check up on him till the morning. 'Might as well get some more sleep, then…'
As he closed his eyes, he remembered the conversation with his inner hollow. He really meant every word he said to his bleached counterpart. The moment their three souls joined to create the Final Getsuga, Ichigo gained an understanding of both his zanpakutou and his inner hollow. What he realized at that moment was that, despite everything, the hollow was no less 'Ichigo' than he himself was.
Slowly but surely, his consciousness faded away, as he entered his dreams once more.
It was already dawn when Ichigo woke up for the second time, though this time he woke up when he felt someone's hand on his forehead.
Once the feeling stopped, he slowly opened his eyes. The room itself it was still partially dark due to the window blinds. Seeing the other person in the room seemed unaware that he was awake, Ichigo decided to use it to his advantage. Since the person took a step back seconds before Ichigo opened his eyes, he couldn't tell who it was. 'What the hell am I doing here being paranoid… It's most likely just a nurse doing a morning inspection or something.' Deciding to drop the pretend act, he called out.
"Who's there?" The shadowy person seemed to show little to no surprise that Ichigo had seen him/her. Instead, the person took a step forward, exposing his face to rays of the morning sun.
Ichigo's eyes went wide with surprise.
"But… but… you're…" it had to be a dream, it had to! This man that stood before him… This man was… "Impossible! You died on my hands!"
The man just grinned at hearing this.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, hero of the Winter War…It is truly regretful that you have lost your shinigami powers… I was sent to fix that." He took another step closer, the grin never leaving his face. "Now, this might hurt a bit… Don't worry, I soundproofed the room… Feel free to scream to your heart's delight." Ichigo tried to move away, but found himself unable to move even an inch. The shier presence of that man pinned him to the bed. With every new breath, breathing became ever more difficult to do.
The man placed his arm on Ichigo's chest.
"Sorry about this."
Ichigo felt as if his head was about to explode from the pain tarring through his body. The gray reiatsu filled up the entire room, like a small hurricane.
Ichigo screamed.
Luckily, he passed out before it was over. The last thing that remained in his mind before he lost his consciousness was the face of the person who was not shinighami, hollow, or human, and the disbelief that he could still be alive…
'Muramasa…'
O-O-O
(Minutes after Ichigo passed out, once the ritual was over)
"Truly, this was a regrettable situation, Kurosaki Ichigo." Muramasa sat down on Ichigo's bed. "But I couldn't afford to hold back. If I had… You would have died." He shook his head. "Don't die, Kurosaki Ichigo… This world still needs your strength." He stood up, ready to leave. He turned around to face Ichigo, as if he had forgotten something.
Kneeling next to him, he placed a small piece of paper in Ichigo's hand, then closed the fist.
'It will explain him everything about tonight.' Using his mental link, he addressed his four companions in the Dangai. 'If he pays attention to what I wrote, there's a very high chance that everything will be alright. Still… Are you sure we're doing the right thing? He could become a powerful enemy one day. The power that killed Aizen can kill us as well.'
Through the link, he received his response.
'It couldn't be helped, Muramasa. Without him there's a big chance that our enemies will gain the upper hand. After all, were not as crazy as that asshole Aizen was, trying to break the boundaries of the world… Now, return to the Dangai. The medical experts of the fourth division are about to have a miracle on their hands in a matter of minutes.'
Muramasa couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. How many times would someone get the chance to pay back a debt after one's death and achieve a major point for his cause at the same time? Severing the mental link with his comrades in the Dangai, he walked outside the room.
'Though we cannot make a move for at least four years, I cannot wait to see the outcome. Kurosaki Ichigo, You will change… EVERYTHING!'
O-O-O
End of chapter one
Authors notes: Well there you have it, the first chapter of 'Innocence is a virtue.' I have a few things to explain in the end.
Thing No.1 – No, Muramasa will not become Ichigo's zanpakutou. (Thought I might write it here, just to avoid possible misunderstanding)
Thing No.2 – The reason why the words Muramasa said were not written the way I said zanpakutou words will be… I'm not telling! (For now at least, or it will spoil the story)
Mugetsu – Moonless sky (power of the Final Getsuga)
REM state – Rapid Eye Movement, dreaming
Phantom limb – The sensation that an amputated or missing limb (even an organ, like the appendix) is still attached to the body and is moving appropriately with other body parts.
Well then…
See ya next time! Don't forget to review!
~KuroiTori-sama