So this is something that came to me as I was writing the next chapter to From a Time Long Past, and at the advice of my beta, I am putting this up as a separate story in the same universe.
As it is right now, this is a one-shot. However, if you guys like it enough, I would like to make it as a story that follows Kisuke's life, giving more backstory to the RWBY universe through a different perspective.
It is up to you guys though.
"No, Ichigo!" A woman's plea rang out across a vast desolate land, overwhelmed with grief and despair.
Standing in the air above this woman was a winged nightmare, its wings flapping gently in the air with its hand extended. In this being's grasp was a peculiar horn, a horn from a demon that was once her friend. As its tail lashed around, it dropped the horn that it held, staring as the woman ran forward to catch it.
"No, it can't be true! Ichigo cannot be dead!" She frantically said to herself. However, when the horn was in her grasp she could not deny the reality of the situation. The man she loved, the man who came to her aid when she got kidnapped by the green nightmare, the man who would defy death and become that what he fought to save her, had died.
"Do not fret, woman." A monotonous voice said from behind her. "He was worthless, just some trash who lost to the beast inside of him. There is no need to cry over such a thing." The speaker's form then began to change from the nightmarish form he held to merely a monochromatic man with wings before the wings themselves disappeared, leaving only a man who stared at her with piercing green eyes that held no emotion.
"That doesn't matter!" She cried out, clutching the horn to her chest as she sobbed. "I still cared for Ichigo, even if he had a hollow in him!"
"I don't get you humans." He said while shaking his head, sheathing his drawn blade. "Anyways, come with me now. You are still my prisoner."
"But what about my friend Uryu?" She asked quietly, looking at his barely twitching form.
"You are coming with me now." His tone instilled in her a fear to deny him what he wants, so she shakily stood to her feet, refusing to let go of the horn. They began to trek back to the palace called Las Noches.
"Is it the 'heart' that makes you weep so?" The woman's escort asked, not looking back at her. "Is this 'heart' you all pride yourselves in really worth the pain it causes you?"
"Yes. Even with the pain that comes with loss, it is worth it." Her breathing hitched as she spoke, more tears leaking from her eyes. "Because when you are not in pain, the world is much brighter and life has so much more worth to it."
"I don't get you at all." The male said without a flicker of emotion in his voice. They then got to the breach in Las Noches' ceiling and jumped through, the woman using her Shun Shun Rikka to create a platform to float down behind him. As they descended from the ceiling, she could see a giant monster fighting in the background as her friends tried to survive against it. Her worry spiked when she saw Rukia, Renji, and Chad go flying as one of the behemoth's fists hit the sand with explosive force.
Her hopes were raised when two captains came and intervened, taking down the monster in a flourish of pink and yellow. More movement caught her eye when she saw Ulquiorra change his direction to go to the corpse of the beast and she changed the direction of her decent to follow him.
"I see you took out Yammy." Her jailer said flippantly, putting the two captains on edge as they approached.
"Orihime!" Rukia called from behind her brother, running to get to her before Byakuya halted her.
"Stay back and calm down. The hollow there could spell trouble for us." He said in a cold voice.
"At least one Shinigami is capable of thought." Ulquiorra said blandly. "So you are at least a bit better than trash."
"You seem like a strong one." Kenpachi commented, forming a feral grin. "Strong enough to be able to put up a good fight!"
"Didn't I say to calm down?" Byakuya asked dryly as pink petals began to pool behind him. The three began to square off against each other when the noble captain used shunpo to grab Orihime and place her behind him. Without looking behind himself, Byakuya gave a command to his sister. "On my signal, take Orihime and run to Mayuri. Tell him that I was the one who sent you and he will know what to do." Knowing that they would obey, he allowed a hand to drop down and point behind him before he used the kido he had in mind. "Bakudo #21, Sekienton." From his hand erupted a massive plume of red smoke that filled a large area behind him as he set up a wall with his bankai.
Carrying Orihime over his shoulder, Chad and the others ran in the direction that Rukia felt the mad clown when looking for his reiryoku signature. Refusing to turn when they heard the fight behind them begin, the Shinigami and Chad ran as Orihime looked behind them atop Chad's shoulder, worry in her eyes as she saw the sand billow about. 'Please, don't die for me as well.'
(XoxoX)
"I thought you were going on about keeping calm?" Kenpachi snorted, taking his blade off from his shoulder.
"I am calm." The noble said in an even tone. "But that doesn't mean that we are not going to have to fight."
"I can agree on that."
Byakuya turned to the hollow before them, asking him a question directly. "I am surprised that you let your captive go like that."
"She won't get far before I beat you trash." Was the subtly caustic reply. "Are you two done?"
"I agree, the time for talk is over!" Kenpachi said as his feral grin reformed. "Now we fight!" The brute of a man dashed forward, swinging his blade with both hands. Ulquiorra took a quick hop back, only for his eyes widen in surprise as the pure force of the swing knocked him back further, ruffling his clothes. He regained his footing in time to dodge to the side as bright pink petals went crashing at him.
'It seems that I must break your rule, Aizen.' He thought to himself while drawing out his blade again. "Enclose..."
(XoxoX)
Orihime flinched as a pillar of bright green energy shot out from where Ulquiorra was fighting before shock filled her as the bright atmosphere of Las Noches gave way to the normal eternal night that was Hueco Mundo, the setting that Aizen put up falling apart when the hollow released.
"What was that?!" Renji shouted as he stumbled.
"Ulquiorra, the hollow we are running from, used Resurreccion." Orihime said sadly.
"That doesn't matter, we are almost on top of Captain Kurotsuchi!" Rukia yelled as she began to run faster. And true to her words, they saw the mad captain, his lieutenant, and Captain Unohana standing by two black pillars. "Captain Kurotsuchi!" She called out while waving, drawing their group's attention to him.
"What?" The captain asked as he glared at them.
"Captain Kuchiki said that he sent us to you and that you knew what to do." The midget said formally, bowing to her superior.
"Ah, I see. Where is that fake-shinigami brat then?" He said while turning around, walking closer to the pillars.
"...Dead." Orihime said, choking on fresh tears as Chad put her down. "He was killed in a fight to save me."
Silence pervaded between the humans and shinigami alike as a variety of shocked reactions spread through them, ranging from Chad looking at Orihime with wide eyes to Rukia collapsing as if the words uttered drained her of her energy.
"Damn that boy!" The clown snapped angrily, before hopping onto the black pillar before him. "Well, we came here to get you back, so get ready. Nemu! Begin the process!" Neutral blue energy became visible around their bodies after his command, and black spheres that resided on top of the pillars rose, collecting the energy they sent into it before a large Garganta opened with a vicious tearing sound.
"If you would follow me." Unohana said while smiling at them, she began to step inside the tear before noticing that they hadn't moved. "I can't say I knew the boy," the smiling woman said, catching their attention, "but I did get a feeling from him. I am sure that he would not have wanted you to wallow in misery over him if he did so to protect you, so please, come with me. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain."
This little speech spun some life and energy back into his friends, if only enough to follow the captain. When they got through to the other side and the portal closed behind them, however, what energy they had was washed away when they saw the wreckage that was Karakura Town, as well as the bodies of the Gotei 13 that didn't go to Hueco Mundo dead on the ground. Unohana's brow pinched when she searched the rubble for signs of life. "Come with me." She commanded before moving towards three signatures that still clung to life.
When she came to see who they were, surprise rocked her. She had expected that Kisuke and Yoruichi would survive, knowing of just how stubborn they were when it came to surviving, but seeing Isshin Shiba alive was unexpected.
"Mr. Kurosaki?" Orihime asked as the others showed up. "Why is he in a Shinigami uniform?"
"Kurosaki?" Unohana asked, looking with wide eyes at the girl. "This is Isshin Shiba, a captain we thought was dead."
"No, that is definitely Ichigo's father." She denied even as her voice hitched. "I wouldn't forget him from when I was younger, when my brother was hit by a car."
Unohana hummed to herself before accepting it. "That would explain Ichigo's lack of respect...but that is not important right now. Would you please heal them with your power as I give them energy?"
"Of course."
The healing process was swift, barely a minute passing before all their injuries healed and they got the energy to wake up and move.
"Where's Ichigo." Isshin was the first to speak, though he got his answer immediately, watching as his friends visibly grew more depressed. "I see." He said in a somber tone. "How did it happen?"
"I-Ichigo was fighting the fourth Espada." Orihime began, shoulders trembling. "It was entirely one sided, Ichigo couldn't even scratch him, yet he kept fighting, refusing to give up. Then, to prove how worthless it was to fight, the hollow shot a cero through his chest."
"I see..."
"No, it didn't end there. Ichigo...he...he turned into a hollow, a hollow strong enough to dominate the fight. The Espada he was fighting tried to run using a Garganta, but Ichigo followed him in. After a minute, the Espada returned with only...this." She held out the horn that was part of Ichigo.
Kisuke stood up when she finished, looking at her. "Wait, he was beaten in the Dangai?"
"No, he was killed there..." Orihime said, confusion tracing her tone.
"Did the Espada say he killed Ichigo?" Kisuke pressed.
"N-no...why?"
Kisuke stood in silence before he dipped his head. "It...it's possible that he is alive..."
"What?!" Every said, perking up at his words.
"Wait now, hear me out." The shopkeeper said, holding his hands up. "I said that he may still be alive, but if he is, he is no longer a part of this time line."
"The hell do you mean? Where's my son!" Isshin said as he grabbed Kisuke by his kimono, shaking him.
"There is a theory about the Koryu. Yoruichi may actually know about it." He said, nodding to the werecat. "As you should know, Isshin, time passes a lot faster in the Dangai than it does elsewhere. Now, there is no proof behind this theory, but it is believed that the Koryu can keep a soul in stasis for hundreds of years."
"Wait, then you mean..." Isshin breathed, his eyes widening at the possibilities.
"Yes, Isshin, I do." Kisuke turned to face the others when Isshin set him down, dusting off his kimono. "I believe that the next time he will be seen, many decades, centuries, or even many millennia will have passed." Kisuke sighed as he took off his hat, holding it in both hands as he looked down. "And with Aizen going at the rate he is, we are powerless to stop him from ending this world. The only thing that would be spared would be the Dangai."
"It is entirely possible that only he will remain for what comes after the world when it does end."
The silence was almost tangible, suffocating almost everyone there as his friends stood. "So that's it then..." Unohana said sadly, shaking her head.
"Yes, that's it." Kisuke quietly agreed. "He was our only chance to keep this world from ending."
"You keep saying 'this world'." Yoruichi said, glaring at him. "What aren't you saying?"
"..."
The shopkeeper remained silent, angering the woman. As she opened her mouth to berate her friend, he cut her off. "I...This world...it isn't real."
"...What?" Yoruichi managed, looking confused.
"I mean exactly what I said, Yoru." Kiskue responded despondently. "The Human world, Hueco Mundo, and even the Seireitei are all fake worlds created by the Soul King."
"What does that mean?!" Renji shouted out.
"It means that when the Soul King dies, the illusions that were those worlds will unravel, leaving behind what was originally there." Kisuke shuddered. "I wish I never learned of it, I really do, but I did and was put under oath to not speak of it." The man looked up at the sky, watching the clouds roll by at their peaceful rate. "But it is too late for that to matter anymore."
"What happens when this...world...reappears?" Orihime asked softly, fearing the worst.
"I don't know." The man shrugged. "But I have a plan."
"You always do." Yoruichi chuckled hollowly.
"We can't do anything, but Ichigo may be able to." Kisuke said as he turned away. "He may be able to return from the future, though I doubt it, so I am going to help him." He pulled a black box from his sleeve, revealing it to them. "I will be able to help him with this."
"How?" Was the derisive reply.
"Information. I will inform him on all that I know that would help him by recording myself on this. In theory, this will make it through the change of worlds, and if I am right, then he will get it and go from there."
"Why can't we join him?" Rukia asked in a diminutive tone.
"Because we don't have a way to pull that off." Kisuke said softly. "Can you form a Garganta? No? Neither can I, for the only thing that can is in my shop, which is probably destroyed by now."
"Then...I have to go..." Rukia said as she stood up. "I...I want to be alone now." At this, the small woman walked away, as did the rest of Ichigo's friends and Unohana. Soon, only Yoruichi, Isshin, and Kisuke remained.
"Why did you lie to her?" Yoruichi asked softly, looking at her childhood friend.
"I have no idea what you mean." Kisuke said replied neutrally.
"Couldn't you have told her that she could use the Senkaimon?"
"No, I couldn't have. A Hell Butterfly would automatically go to her, or any other Shinigami still in the Court, so they would bypass the Dangai." Was his reply. "Anyways, I need to make the recording."
"I am joining you." Isshin said firmly, a light fire burning in his eyes. As Kisuke was about to reply to his friend, everything gave a fierce shake, making Kisuke's eyes widen in fear.
"Fine, we have no time anyways." Kisuke said quickly. He activated the cube and watched as a camera formed and faced him. With a weary sigh, the shopkeep opened with an apology to the boy before telling the tale he learned of the Soul King's past. He told the boy of what to expect from the world, of what he learned from his prying into the matters of the old world. When his tale was spun, the man walked away from sight so that Isshin could take over.
Isshin spun his own tale, the tale of how he and his mother met, of what got them together, of the boy's true heritage really was. Kisuke's heart grew heavy when the usually goofy man gave his heartfelt farewell. The man clasped Kisuke on the shoulder when he turned off the recording device and pocketed it. No more words were spoken as blinding walls of light erupted from the ground, flashing up to the sky as it fell apart. As the light came, a portion of the moon crumbled, pieces of it scattering into the empty void as others remained in place.
Just as the moon had crumbled, so too did the other dimensions. Countless bottomless fissures formed in Hueco Mundo, sending the sand into nothingness as the land destabilized. Light erupted from these fissures, enveloping the land and its inhabitants as they cried out in fear.
The Seireitei only disintegrated at a slow rate, the tallest buildings going first as the reishi that made them up dissipated into the air as if they were being ground down by sandpaper.
On the ground where the light was coming from, feral animalistic noises began to escape from them. The three friends looked at each other as a wall of light grew in size, approaching them at steady pace.
'I am truly sorry, Ichigo.' Was Kisuke's last thought before he was enveloped by the encroaching light.
(XoxoX)
In the middle of the wilderness, a man's eyes opened. Confused, he looked around. 'Where am I?' He asked himself. 'Who am I?' Looking down, he found a box in his hands, along with a puddle that showed a blonde man in odd attire. 'What am I wearing?'
Shaking his head, the man returned his attention to the box. Upon close examination, he stumbled upon a button that made the box glow and expand. The man panicked and dropped the device on the ground before seeing himself rise. Overcome with curiosity, he watched and listened to the recording.
When it ended, his head was an aching mess. The pain came in overwhelming waves, almost like something were worming and kicking its way to the front of his mind before everything clicked. Coming to his senses as the pain resided, the man thought to himself once more. 'So I was right, we are in the old world.' Kisuke thought to himself. 'Though it seems to lack the energy the one I am from had...or...it could be that I no longer have any.'
Indeed, he could not feel the spiritual pressure he was used to, and for the first time in his life, he felt like a human. With a sigh, Kisuke began to walk aimlessly, the box now in its inert form and tucked safely under his arm. He donned a fierce look as he walked with a determined air about him.
'Time to survive in this land and make sure Humanity survives!'