Bleach: Reborn Souls
Chapter One
"How The Mighty Fall"
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters within.
Ichigo sighed with relief now that he had the tiny orb in his hand. It was almost a miracle Aizen was no more since it had taken a lot to beat him. Hell, Ichigo still remembered with perfect clarity the day Aizen had been revealed for what he truly was.
The man had been stronger than the whole band of Taichos together.
But now Ichigo found that he too could be on a similar level...although like all things, it had consequences. The consequence he could already feel happening within himself. Every single ounce of power he had worked so hard to achieve was slowly sapping away like evaporated water under sun.
He was losing his abilities and to be honest...he was scared.
It only made him think on his father, Ishhin Kurosaki, and how he had willingly given away his powers. Hadn't the man felt something about losing the very thing that defined him?
And for what?
Ichigo already had his suspicions but he wasn't going to pry in his father's life. When Isshin was comfortable telling him the truth, he would. Meanwhile, all Ichigo could do was wait patiently and imagine.
But he couldn't imagine what it would be to live without seeing souls floating around and speaking to him. How would it be to not feel the connection between himself, his powers, and the people he had befriended in Seireitei?
He didn't know, but he was going to find out inevitably.
Ichigo smiled dryly, "How the mighty fall, right Aizen?"
He thumbed the Hogyoku, liking the way the color looked under the sun. How had such a small thing play such a critical role in Aizen's plans? It just proved that one should mess with natural order like Urahara had done.
"Beautiful, isn't it, Kurosaki-kun?"
Ichigo startled, gazing up to meet brown orbs of kindness and curiosity. "Orihime-san...I didn't notice you." He admitted quietly, noticing how she seemed to lose her glow before regaining it again, "How are you?" He finished.
She grinned from ear to ear and waved her hands happily, "Safe and cheery, Kurosaki-san! Strong as ever." Orihime exclaimed, holding up her arm.
"Good to know."
She smiled then looked down to the Hogyoku, "Urahara-san said you could keep it. He said he had no use for it, Kurosaki-kun." She shrugged, "Or something like that."
He noticed Rukia and the others arriving to the scene, happy smiles stretched on their faces and he felt a flash of satisfaction because he'd protected them. He did it.
But just as quickly as that thought came, it disappeared. Urahara concerned him more. Ichigo didn't consider himself a very 'people' person, but he knew a bit about Urahara to understand that the man did nothing without reason and that his seemingly kind gesture meant more than Ichigo could understand right how.
Why would Urahara leave a relic like the Hogyoku in his hands? Would Soutaichou-jiji even let it pass without a hitch?
And that was as far as he caught when he suddenly felt a blinding pain to the side of his head. He dropped and the last thing he registered was the stricken faces of his friends and family.
'If I could understand all of them...would I be able to truly see?
If I could understand the focus of Urahara?
...the loyalty of the Shinigami to the laws?
...the fear of every hollow and their strives?
...everyone?'
