Right, I have no idea where I want to go with this. UH, yes, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Or anything made by Kubo. Only Zero.
Ichigo awoke to an immense throbbing in his head and the feeling of being carried. It was only later that Ichigo found out that it was Isshin, Ichigo's father, that carried him from the scene of devastation. Police and a single ambulance surrounded the spot near the river. Still too disoriented and in deep pain, Ichigo drifted off. His last thought rang throughout the bank.
"Mom?"
Isshin looked down at his boy in sorrow, not having the will to wake him from his slumber. The father could not even begin to try to attempt to inform the boy of his mother's demise.
"Let's head home, son."
No one seemed to notice the tall, black-haired man standing next to him, not even the bucket-hat wearing man and his furry companion.
"Everything has a price. Some higher than others. That doesn't make the gift any less cursed or blessed, depending on how you look at it. "
To Zero, his words rang true. Afterall, Zero gave up everything that made up his being in his previous life as a simple farmer. Having said his piece, Zero vanished in a flash of light, but not without saying some lingering words.
"We will meet again. Ichigo."
Ichigo's Inner World
There was nothing but plain fields, an endless plain. Standing across from one another, the two residents were seemingly at peace in their little world.
"That man did something. "
"Huh? The fuck did he do?"
Suddenly, the being both fell to their knees, a great pain encompassing their being. Screaming in pain and looking around for an explanation, the two residents were shocked to see that they were breaking apart into particles.
"Wh-What the fuck old man?! We're fucking being destroyed!"
With a great deal of effort, the older looking gentleman stood.
"No." Gritting his teeth, the old man elaborated. "We're becoming one."
The other resident, a mirror image of Ichigo with bleached colors, turned and looked at the old man in shock. Looking at the particles, the doppelganger realized that what his companion said was true.
"No. No way. We don't mix! You're Quincy for fucks sake! I'm hollow and shinigami! Ichigo will be fucking obliterated!"
"There is nothing we can do, but hope that whatever that man did stabilize itself."
With those words, the two beings disappeared. In their place, a single being stood. The new person was a blend of the last two. Donning a trench coat, the being looked like a carbon copy of Ichigo, but he lacked the strawberry's brown eyes. Instead, his eyes were a deep ocean blue. The newcomer looked to his right to see the one responsible for the changes. Zero, though not really Zero, stood before him.
"I hope you are satisfied with yourself."
"Bah, my chosen shouldn't have his powers at ends with each other. It'd be much more helpful if everything was packed into one source. With my power acting as a glue, the hollow, shinigami, and Quincy would be able to interact. No other being in existence has ever been made or seen."
"The risks that you took for this little experiment were rather high."
Though the being looked like the image of calm, he was really furious. He wanted nothing more than to rip this newcomer apart limb by limb.
"Now, before you get any funny ideas, without me, there will be no Ichigo. Without my power, the energies within this soul would rip each other apart. You should be thankful. You get to protect Ichigo all by yourself and without that blasted king tethered to you."
The being's eyes widened and quickly confirmed Zero's statement. The connection to Yhwach was gone. Ichigo was free.
"He'll need you in a couple of years. Now, state your name. Scream it to the heavens. This is the beginning of a new life and it will only get wilder from here on out."
A wild, feral grin spread throughout the being's face. Free from that parasite? No one else but him residing inside Ichigo's soul? There is nothing else that would satisfy the being other than Ichigo himself accepting him. Licking his lips in anticipation, the being drew a deep breath and screamed out to the plains before him.
"MY NAME IS MANGESTU! I WILL PROTECT ICHIGO! I! AM! ICHIGO!"
The representation of Zero grinned in response.
"Let the games begin.
That's a wrap. Sorry for a shitty name like Zero for the newcomer. I really didn't have anything prepared. If you have anything better, let me know down in the reviews or a PM. Still don't have an update schedule since I lack any sort of structure. I type when I feel like it. Next update unknown. Stay safe.