To answer a reviewer's question in regards to the appearance of Zangetsu, the smaller blade looks like Sting from Lord of the Rings, perhaps a little wider and longer along the length of the actual blade, and the larger blade looks like Anduril from the Return of the King film except with some additions and a hollowed portion near the crossguard of the larger blade where the elvish script would have begun.

And here we go!

A few days had passed since Ichigo had travelled into the Northern half of the Spine Mountains, at last putting to rest his suspicions of another Rider being in Carvahall at seeing the large blue colored mass that had flown along the mountain winds with the grace and nobility found only in the rest of Vahlok's kind.

Yet it was here and now, entrenched in the last snow fall of a harsh winter that Ichigo cursed himself for not realising that danger had been closer than he thought.

"Come on dammit we gotta move!" Ichigo cried as he continued to help haul the hastily constructed sled through the knee deep snow, glancing at the weary and bloodied form of Eragon, Son of None as they tried to get Eragon's uncle Garrow back to Carvahall. The two teens were at first unrelenting as they trudged along through the newest layer of unmarked snow and ice. Yet as the journey dragged on, Ichigo slowly became forced to carry more and more of the burden between them as Eragon began to succumb to a set of harsh wounds upon his legs and his arms.

The ripped and bloodied pants were Ichigo's first clue, and alongside the blackened extremities and features the Soul Reaper could only assume that the younger man had actually been digging through what was almost certainly a still scorching hot wreckage of embers and lumber that had once been the family farm to try and find Garrow. Despite the grave risk it presented to himself. But things were far more pressing at the moment, as the two drew slowly closer to the village.

Blood and ash trailed behind them like a river as Eragon panted heavily in exhaustion beside Ichigo; the aftereffects of shock and pain in the younger man's system finally beginning to set in. Ichigo had recognized the wounds on the brown haired boy's legs easily enough from the amount of times he had seen Vahlok rub his scales along the bark of a tree, and could only wince in sympathy every time the boy took a step forward and more blood ran down his legs. Ichigo shuddered gently as he imagined just what it would do to him if he had much less resilient skin and no Blut to protect himself. Yet he saw how the wounds were trying to scab over from the cold but the constant movement was only doing more harm than good. Eragon would sport those scars for the rest of his life, of that Ichigo was sure.

'Dammit at this rate we're never going to make it to the village to save either of them!' Ichigo cursed in his head as he picked up the pace, Eragon trying to keep up until the orange haired teen quickly moved towards his companion and moved to lay the brown haired boy on the make shift sled alongside the grievously wounded Garrow.

"Wait! …Ichigo," Eragon slurred as he tried to reach out and grab his friend's arm, only to have his tired and burnt limb fall short as Eragon at last entered unconsciousness. Ichigo grimaced slightly as he grunted and grabbed the makeshift rope Eragon had fashioned for the sled and continued at a much faster pace, pumping reiatsu through his legs to help melt the snow and to boost the strength in his legs. Aggravated and slowly rising to being pissed off, Ichigo cursed and swore to himself; beyond frustrated that this was all he could do for the two. That for all his power, for all his conviction; when someone needed him most…he couldn't save them.

Not unless he was willing to condemn the entirety of Palancar valley to Galbatorix' scrutiny. And that was not something he was willing to do. He wouldn't doom these people, the very same who had taken him in and made him one of their own in such a short amount of time to the Black King… There was no way in hell he would have all of their deaths on his shoulders.

"Just hold on Eragon, I'm gonna get you out of this. I promise." Ichigo vowed as in the distance he spotted Brom fast approaching with some of the other villagers, blood caked to Brom's temple and running down to his beard as he came to a halt in front of Ichigo.

"What happened!?" Brom asked sharply, eyes narrowed and burning bright with such hate and fury that Ichigo nearly felt taken aback. Yet as he examined the older man's reiatsu signature and noticed the rather eerie similarity it had to Eragon's, Ichigo supposed he could understand why Brom was so panicked at the moment. But it was not his place to pry, for now at least.

"I was out hunting, thinking I might be able to catch some small game and stock up on furs when I saw smoke through the lower thickets and brush of the trees near the base of the mountain," Ichigo explained as the remainder of the apparent search party arrived and moved to grab a corner of the makeshift sled for themselves. Ichigo was glad to recognize each of their faces, nodding thankfully at Horst, the local blacksmith, his two sons Albriech and Baldor, and finally Byrd; one of the few good men in Ichigo's books in this world he now called home.

"What the hell were you doing hunting at this time of the year Ichigo?" Baldor asked with a grunt as he hefted the sled up high along with the others, each lowering it as gently as possible to lie steady on their shoulders as the group continued to the village at a much faster clip. Ichigo now paying close attention to how Brom had set himself close to Eragon's side and kept his eyes fixed ahead. Eventually turning back towards Baldor, Ichigo took a few seconds to formulate an answer as he examined the young man he called friend here in this strange land.

Baldor was just a few weeks shy of turning seventeen, with a wiry but broad and deceptively powerful frame hidden beneath a thick winter cloak and furs; possessing long locks of dark brown hair and near coal black eyes that spoke of honesty and warmth. Baldor was a good man, and a good friend to both Ichigo and Eragon, and was in fact the one who had welcomed Ichigo into Carvahall one evening after Ichigo had settled in the mountains and come down to the local tavern for some food. Something Ichigo was deeply grateful for, despite all the villagers' rumors about his attitude and his hair. Even in this universe people still gossiped and mocked him for his hair color.

"You can ask questions later Baldor, we need to get Eragon and Garrow to Gertrude first," Albriech huffed at the pair as Ichigo closed his mouth, shrugging at Baldor as the group quickened their feet as Garrow gasped for breath louder and louder while Eragon began to gently move about.

Ichigo sighed as he felt the heavy fabric of his cloak swirl about in the harsh winter wind, leaning against the wooden pillar that supported the overhang of Gertrude's hut in the center of Carvahall. The frayed hood flowing along gently in the crisp breeze as the chain attached to Zangetsu's hilt chimed in the wind behind him. The sound of the door opening echoed through the early morn, as Brom moved to stand beside Ichigo; gazing out into the mountains as silence settled between them.

"Neither of the dragons were discovered if that's what you're worrying about story teller," Ichigo said at last as he moved to place his partially gloved hands on the banister as he looked out over his new home. "Eragon's dragon vanished into the Northern areas of the Spine once I and Vahlok got within a few miles of the farm. Vahlok stopped at the edge of the forest and headed south after he left me there. He's probably waiting for me on the lowest bluff leading into open ground near the cabin."

Brom looked at him oddly for a second, until the old man grew a small smirk on his lips and shook his head as he leant upon his wooden stave. "Always straight to the point of the matter aren't you boy?" he asked with a wry tone, Ichigo only smirking in response as he looked at the older man and his eyes flashed to iridescent blue.

"I've always tackled my issues head on, why would talking to people be any different?" the teen asked rhetorically as Brom only laughed and drew out his pipe; swiftly lighting the packed tobacco leaves with a pulse of what Ichigo sensed to be diluted reiatsu. Ichigo felt his eyes narrow at the little display, only to see Brom wink at him mischievously before the older man went on his way, humming a merry tune under his breath as he headed for his home near the outskirts of the main village.

"Tch," Ichigo scoffed as he shook his head wryly, "Why is it always the old men that dress oddly who are the ones with the secrets to tell?" he asked himself as he moved towards the hut door, gently entering the small home as the crackle of a healthy fire and the gentle rock of a chair upon wood entered his ears.

The home was packed from floor to ceiling with all manner of herbs, books, old wooden furniture, furs and eccentricities that Ichigo always found it amazing that Gertrude, the local healer could find anything in this mess. But he supposed it gave the home a certain feel to it, one that seemed to ease the patients and the ancient woman the village called their doctor as the earthy aroma of the herbs and the home itself after all these years. But it was the young man situated on the floor by the fire that drew Ichigo's attention, as Eragon shone with a pale sheen as cold sweat beaded his brow and his body rattled and shook with every breath.

Moving silently, Ichigo knelt down by his friend, eyes hard but shining with concern as he sensed the fluctuating spirit energy within the teen trying to repair his battered body. Yet as he delved deeper, Ichigo was able to sense another flicker of foreign reiatsu flowing through Eragon and when he found the source of it, being a familiar oval shaped mark on his friend's right hand, he couldn't help but sigh in exasperation and defeat.

"Looks like we've both been dragged into something way over our heads before we were ready, eh Eragon?" the young Dragon Rider said morbidly as he crouched there next to his wounded friend and the soothing warmth of the fire. All while Gertrude sat behind them in silence, a keen look in her twinkling eyes as Ichigo reached into his cloak and placed a small object in the younger boy's hand, before nodding once and turning abruptly to face her.

Ichigo quietly closed the door behind him as he turned and pulled his hood up, sighing as he entered the streets and moved through Carvahall with his head lightly bowed. His features once more shrouded in shadow as his feet trod the path towards Horsts' home; which had been built upon the hills overlooking the river near the village outskirts. The young man's mood was frayed and weary after he had exchanged a few words with Gertrude; successfully managing to cover his wounded friend's tracks in regards to the wounds Eragon possessed that ran along his inner thighs. No doubt received from riding his dragon without a proper saddle, or the benefits of Blut Vein. Ichigo had also hesitantly asked about Garrow, and the news he received weighed upon his heart like a stone chained to his neck.

Garrow was dying, slowly to be sure…but the older man's demise was there on the horizon, of that there was no doubt in the old healer's mind. The situation was altogether disheartening, and Ichigo wished he could do more. But he wasn't meant to heal, that had always been his beloved's job. No… He was meant only to destroy… To wage war and ravage his enemies on the battlefield so that they could never endanger those he held close to his heart. He was a warrior… A protector. Yet it was times like this that the orange haired man managed to truly appreciate, and yes even envy the path his father had chosen so long ago when he had forsaken his powers to protect the woman he grew to love.

"Looks like you were the better man after all, huh pops?" the young man murmured under his breath as Horst's home came into view, taking a moment to appreciate the amount of time and skill Horst had put into the home. It was a two story building, with a shale roof that shadowed a railed balcony that extended from a tall window on the second floor. The hooded man's eyes found themselves drawn to the intricate carvings upon the bannisters and every frame; the light colored wood dominated with the images of serpent, harts, ravens, and knotted vines.

"Take a good look Ichigo," he murmured to himself quietly as the wind howled in his ears. "This is only part of what you're going to be fighting for…" he said softly, turning his head at a peculiar sound and then watching as Baldor and Albriech hauled supplies into the shed next to the stable; while he saw Horst working inside through the second floor window. "Might as well give them a hand," Ichigo mused with a smirk as he moved towards Baldor, who was struggling with a pile of lumber that was stacked awkwardly and threatened to fall on top of the young smith.

"Blasted piece of timbre!" Baldor cursed as he tried to maneuver a piece of cut lumber, trying to lift the pile long enough to retrieve it, only to nearly fall forward as the weight of the pile was suddenly lifted from his hands.

"What in the blazes?" he demanded with a mixture of heat and surprise, until he saw the cloaked figure of his orange haired friend standing beside him. Albriech, having seen the cloaked figure moving towards his little brother began running towards them as Ichigo held the pile up with but a single hand, the younger brother lightly astonished at the raw physical strength his friend actually possessed.

"Having a bit of trouble there Baldor?" Ichigo asked with a smirk as he casually held the lumber aloft, idly wiping some snow from his cloak with his left hand as Baldor gaped at his friend's raw strength. Seeing the odd look on his friends face Ichigo snorted as he reached out and grabbed the sole piece of timbre Baldor had been trying to pry free as he yanked it out with a sharp tug. "This what you were looking for?" he asked with a smirk as Albriech came to a stop beside him, grinning widely at the look on his brother's face.

"I can't say for sure Ichigo, though judging by the look plastered on Baldor's face I reckon you might be right," Albriech teased with a grin as he stopped beside the cloaked orange haired teen. Baldor it seemed had finally come back to his senses as glared at his brother, while Ichigo looked on with a smirk as he released the pile of lumber and stepped back as it landed with a great crash. This seemed to frighten the two other boys as they jumped back with their eyes wide as Ichigo only began to chuckle and moved towards their modest home.

"Come on you two, I don't think Horst is going to be all that pleased if you two stand there gawking all day." Ichigo teased as he moved through the snow, the two boys quick to follow after him.

Ichigo had only just opened the door when his smirk disappeared to be replaced by a light grin as Elain, Horst's wife walked forward and wrapped him in a swift hug. The petite woman was perhaps one of the kindest and yet most fierce woman Ichigo had ever met, with curls of honey blonde hair and warm dark brown eyes.

"Oh thank goodness you're alright Ichigo," she said once she released him, holding the tall orange haired man at arm's length as she examined him from head to toe. Ichigo barely supressed rolling his eyes as he looked down at the kind woman and gave her a small smile.

"You should have known by now Elain I'm more than able to take care of myself." Ichigo teased as Baldor and Albriech sniggered behind him and quickly quieted as their friend turned to give them a sharp glare.

A deep, strong voice spoke up then, the words full of mirth and meant to tease. "If that be the case boy then I suppose all the times me and my wife had to feed your cavernous stomach were all a lie then?"

Ichigo turned to see the massive form of Horst, the town blacksmith standing before him, a grin on his face and arms crossed across his broad chest. Ichigo only chuckled and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, the locks of spiked orange hair lightly covering his eyes as he propped his free hand on his hip.

"I suppose ya got me there Horst, although I do remember most of it not being free either," Ichigo shot back with a smirk, Albriech and Baldor laughing quietly as they moved further into the house to help their mother in the kitchen.

Horst only chuckled as he moved forward and placed his hands on Ichigo's shoulders, the calloused hands of the large blacksmith landing with a solid thump that would have rattled a man's teeth. Ichigo only grinned as he moved past, unaware of Horst's eyes shooting towards the hilt of his sword.

Yet the grin soon slipped from his face as Ichigo looked towards the kitchen and saw a large bucket filled with steaming water, a blood soaked rag lain upon the wood counter not a foot away as Baldor and Albriech fidgeted with some loaves of bread and a hunk of cheese. Elain, seeing the sad look in his eyes placed a soft hand upon his arm, gently leading him away and towards the table.

"How's Garrow?" he asked as they walked, the silence Elain gave him as her immediate answer gnawing at his stomach like a gnat, as he watched her grab a bowl and move back towards the kitchen.

"The fever won't break," Elain murmured gently as she placed a bowl of hot stew before Ichigo, a spoon held out to him as he took it with a soft nod of his head. "His wounds refuse to close no matter how many times they are cleaned or bandaged; and every night I hear his screams as he pleads with 'them,' to not take his boys." Elain gave Ichigo a soft look as she set herself down and laced her hands together. "I never thought I would see the day that Garrow would beg for anything to anyone… But to hear and see it now when the man is so close to the end… I shudder to think of what the two men who attacked the farm did to him."

"They won't get away with it."

Elain's head shot up quickly to stare at the young man seated beside her, surprise and horror evident in her eyes as she realized how serious he was. Ichigo only hardened his gaze as he ate away at the stew, clenching his fist as he pictured Zangetsu skewered through the gut of whoever did this. "I'm going to make sure of that."

"Don't forget about us."

Ichigo only sighed internally as he turned to look at his two friends, Baldor having crossed his arms across his chest while Albriech stood at his side. Elain looked utterly distraught at the notion, eyes wide and her mouth agape. The reaction however was something Ichigo knew was more than warranted in this situation. Drawing herself with all the fierce anger of a protective mother, Elain stared them all down as she rose to her feet and pointed at each of the boys.

"If any of you, aye you're included in this little lecture too Ichigo, think for a single blasted moment that I'm going to let you go gallivanting around Alagaësia hunting down the people responsible for this attack then I swear to the gods-"

"Let them be Elain."

Ichigo himself was rather surprised by Horst's sharp interruption, as did the blacksmith's wife and children it seemed. The large burly man was stone faced and straight-backed, something Ichigo remembered his father doing only once. Before the Thousand Year Blood War, where Isshin had to watch his own son be once again thrust into the role of Savior for the Soul Society. Horst stared only at his wife as he spoke, his words carrying a weight all too familiar to Ichigo's ears.

"They are men full grown Elain, and they can make choices for themselves." Horst exclaimed with a tilt of his head towards the three boys. "If that is their path then so be it, but we cannot shelter them for the rest of their lives love." Baldor and Albriech seemed more than pleased at the turn in their father's behaviour, yet Ichigo had a sly smirk as he knew that the tall man wasn't done yet.

"However…"

'Man I'm on a roll today,' Ichigo thought with a roll of the eyes as he leaned back in his chair and looked up at Horst, noting out of the corner of his eyes the now dismayed looks on his two friends faces.

"Don't think I'm not going to let you two off without a lick of sense being knocked into those thick heads of yours if I have anything to say about it!" Horst said sternly as he gave his sons a pointed and fierce glare, the two boys withering under the intensity of it as Ichigo only chuckled at them.

"Are you two almost finished?" Ichigo yelled as he stood outside of Horst's shop, his two soon to be companions testing out a variety of weapons and armor their father had set aside for them to choose from before they set out on their journey. And while he was allowed the chance to think, Ichigo knew that he's have to come clean about some things. A lot of things. And it seemed he didn't have to wait long as the two men walked out of the forge, clad in cloaks of fine leather and carrying the weapons of their choice.

Albriech carried a broad, twin-headed axe; whose haft was near as tall as Albriech's torso. The massive weapon was slung across his back as the dark Damascus-steel blade stood out like an open flame against the fallen snow. Baldor carried a finely polished yew bow and a fully stocked leather quiver; the sturdy weapon held in his hand firmly as the smaller of the two men pulled up his hood; fiddling with the hilt of a large foot-and-a-half-length dagger hung at his waist. Ichigo only smirked at the two men, seeing the hesitance in their eyes as they seemed to look upon their weapons with a surreal disbelief.

"You two find everything alright?" he asked with a teasing grin, ducking his head with a laugh as Albriech swung at him with his gloved hand. Darting back Ichigo smirked as the taller of the two boys scowled at him.

"What's it look like to you eh?" Albriech asked sarcastically, Baldor rolling his eyes behind him as the three began to head for the outskirts of the village. "Where we goin' anyway Ichigo?" Albriech asked, shifting within his leathers and furs to rest more comfortably on his broad frame. "Cause I don't think for an instant Father or Mother are gonna let us leave right out of the blue eh?"

Ichigo only smirked and remained silent as the three moved further away from the village, the chain hanging form the pommel of his sword swaying gently in the wind as the young Dragon Rider felt Vahlok brush against his mind through the bond.

'You are bound and determined to go after the egg-breakers aren't you little one?' the majestic beast asked knowingly, Ichigo smirking in response as he led the two village boys through the dark forest and towards the foot of the mountain.

'Aye, but before that we need to tell them the truth… Or at least a version of it anyway,' Ichigo said firmly, getting a gentle hum of acknowledgement from his dragon as Ichigo's keen senses picked up Vahlok's spiritual pressure flying above them. 'God this is going to be a pain in the ass,' Ichigo thought to himself as he led his two companions deeper into the dark of the mountain.

Baldor sighed heavily to himself as he inspected the small foyer in Ichigo's cabin, his curiosity once initially peaked at the prospect of seeing his elusive friends home quelled by the situation lain out before them. Dragon Riders, mythological beasts that roamed the earth, it was a fair amount to take in all at once. Baldor's cloak was currently wrapped tight around his body, the new bow he had claimed for himself now propped up against his knee as Ichigo left him and his brother alone in the foyer. Albriech himself was inspecting his new axe, a troubled look on his face as the sharp grind of stone to steel echoed through the room.

"Can't believe Ichigo kept this from us all this time…" Baldor heard his brother murmur, the blonde haired man utterly engrossed in the pattern of crashing waves lain within the cold steel as he took a whetstone to the razor edge. Desperate to wrap his mind around the path lain before him and his brother and the once clear image of their friend tarnished by the secrets Ichigo had revealed.

The two men were seated by the fireplace within the main room now, Baldor checking the fletching on the arrows he had taken to keep his mind focused and ensuring the bow wasn't cracked so as to prevent it from shattering in his hands.

"Aye," Baldor murmured in agreement as he leaned back and set down the freshly polished yew bow, drawing his knife and examining the razor edge that glinted almost maliciously in the light of the fire. "But we can't exactly blame him for what was already long done. After all, if we were in his position I doubt we'd have done anything different."

"Aye."

A sharp grunt caught the two men's attention, their heads whipping to the side as they stared wide eyed at their orange haired friend. A sharp scowl set on his face as his brown eyes glinted sharply from the flickering flame. Ichigo also had his arms crossed over his chest in annoyance with his two blades hung proudly on his back.

"You two done?" he asked sharply, a feeling of guilt settling in the two men's guts as they looked down from Ichigo's gaze. Seeing that no answer was forthcoming, Ichigo sighed in frustration as he moved towards the two. Standing beside them, Ichigo deftly raised up his hands and slapped the back their heads.

"GODS ABOVE!" Albriech cried out in pain as he leapt to his feet, hands pressed firmly against the back of his skull as he tried to alleviate the sharp burning he felt under his palms. Turning to look at Ichigo who now had a small grin on his face, Albriech pointed an accusatory finger at his friend and snarled at him.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing ya' bastard!"

"Getting your attention," Ichigo responded immediately, turning on his heel towards the cabin door as Albriech at last noticed that Ichigo was still clad in his armor. "Now get Baldor off the floor would you? We have some work to do if I'm to let you two follow me on this little hunt." And with that Ichigo opened the door and stepped out into the frigid day with Albriech and Baldor staring into his back in confusion. Yet the two acquiesced all the same, walking out to join their friend in the chilling winds that howled through the forest.

Baldor raised his arm to protect his face from the harsh wind, yet tears still fell from his eyes despite his efforts as the cold howl of the mountain air ravaged the land around the three men. 'It seems lady winter has not had her fill,' he thought to himself, Albriech cursing beside him as he flailed about through the blistering wind.

Yet despite the cold and the tears that clouded their eyes, the black figure of their friend was unmistakeable, even in the pale glow of fading day; with the sun hung just above the crest of the trees. His back was to them, which confused them greatly as the two watched his orange locks blow in the wind without a care for the cold of winter's breath. The two shared a quizzical glance, eyes searching as they approached him, with Albriech reaching out an unsure hand. Until with a terrified cry and an utterly shocked look upon his face, was Albriech hauled forward and over Ichigo's shoulder in a single move. Albriech felt weightless for but an instant, eyes wide and filled with utter surprise before he was slammed unceremoniously into the snow flat on his back. He groaned out in pain as he lay in the cold snow, the shaft of the axe he now carried digging into his skin and sure to leave a healthy bruise come the morn. His hand he noted was held firmly in Ichigo's grasp, while Baldor watched on stupefied as Albriech continued to groan in pain and annoyance.

"B-Bastard!" he wheezed, scowling darkly as he heard his brother begin to laugh at him from the side, yanking his hand free and rolling onto his stomach before he gently pushed himself to his knees. "What the hell was that for anyway?" Albriech demanded hotly as he looked up at Ichigo, who simply crossed his arms and grinned wickedly. The action alone sent a chill of utter despair down the backs of the two men as a cold sweat began to bead upon their brows.

"You two want in on this little hunt of mine, then you need to be able to keep up with me," Ichigo explained simply with a grin, yet this did little to ease the two villagers form Carvahall. Which was further destroyed as Ichigo continued with an almost crazed glee. "So for the next month as we wait for the snow to melt and for Eragon to get up off of his lazy arse, I'm going to beat you both into the ground day and night to see if you have what it takes to follow through on your vow to kill the bastards that did this."

Vahlok had been sleeping peacefully when he had heard his partner-of-heart-and-mind begin to speak to the other two-legs, opening his eyes the black dragon began to release a wheezing, baritone laugh from deep in his chest as he sensed the fear and anxiety from his partner's two friends.

'At least they will not have to meet White One and Old One in Black…' the mighty beast thought with a laugh, lowering his head to rest upon his forelimbs to sleep once more as he heard the familiar clash of steel rise through the trees and the darkness of the mountain.

Three Weeks Later…

Ichigo felt his eyes narrow as he drew Zangetsu from the sheathe strapped to his back, the hand-a-half handed blade as black as the pit itself as the light of the sun seemed to die on its edge. Ichigo felt a sense of warmth surge through his body as he held his sword in his hand once more, the chain chiming softly in the wind as the chilled winter air surged around him. Yet even now he could feel the warmth of spring in the air, the melted snow around his feet proof enough to those with a good set of eyes. He had discarded his cloak some time ago, his two opponents circling him warily as they waited in the small clearing outside the front of his cabin, while their audience watched on in amusement and disbelief.

His two friends had come far in the past three weeks under his tutelage, their bodies tempered and their minds sharp as he drove them to the ground time and again to prepare them for the path lain out before them.

Albriech breathed smoothly as he readjusted his grip upon his axe, the massive twin headed weapon gleaming maliciously in the light of the rising sun as he stalked along the smooth ground of the clearing. His hair had grown long in the three weeks of his training, tied back into a ponytail by a leather cord to keep his eyes free of obstacles. He now sported a small beard, trimmed and neat that made his broad form all the more daunting. Even then his physique was far more heavily muscled than it had been last winter, built and refined from the hours of training on the slopes of the Spine with his friend while coupled with the extra work he and his brother had taken to doing in their father's forge.

Baldor himself had grown well under the watchful tutelage of his friend. His physique now a wiry, lean musculature that often times made others mistake him for more than the son of a smith. It was indeed one better suited for speed and agility, while still capable of mighty physical strength rather than being built to withstand blow after blow and trading them back and forth like his brother. His hair had been cut short with the back only falling to the nape of his neck; face clean shaven and planed as the excess baby fat he had once carried had melted away to reveal the rugged man underneath. Which, he noted dryly as he kept pace with his brother and knocked back his arrow and aimed it at Ichigo, had caused many of the village girls, and even some of the older women to give both him and his brother more attention than ever before.

Before it had always been Roran who had had the best luck with girls, both with the daughters of the traders when the caravans came through and the village beauty Katrina herself. Ichigo when he had dared to come down from the mountain was met with much the same enthusiasm, leaving both Baldor and his brother rather wanting when it came to attention from the fairer sex.

Yet now it was more an annoyance, as now his every step was scrutinized and more and more often village girls would wait around the back of the forge and watch him and his brother as they worked. Ichigo had taken great joy in teasing the two of this little fact, the trio now surrounded by women from the village when they visited the local tavern during the three weeks, as the two young men became utterly lost and confused when talking to those of the fairer complexion.

Yet refocusing on the matter at hand Baldor breathed evenly as he maintained his draw on the bow, the fletching tickling his cheek as he and his brother continued to circle their teacher and friend. He eyed the massive blade warily, his past experience in watching the blade be used to deflect and shield Ichigo against his arrows all too fresh in his mind. Yet with a sudden cry from his brother, Baldor released the arrow and charged forward, drawing his knife in hopes that the two men might be able to overcome their friend and teacher.

Ichigo only smirked wickedly as the two drew near, his blade moving as if it were made of nothing but air to intercept the arrow flying for his skull. With a piercing clang the iron head of the arrow shattered like glass against the surface of Zangetsu, a menacing and excited cackle echoing within Ichigo's head as the young orange haired man spun. His black blade slicing through the air with a sharp whistle that came to a sudden halt as it crashed against the massive blade of Albriech's axe, sparks flying for a split moment as the two locked blades. Yet Ichigo feeling Baldor charging at his exposed back leaned to the side as he heard Baldor lunge, the knife held in his friends hand gleaming wickedly as Ichigo used his free hand to push Baldor away and then Ichigo lifted his foot and slammed it into Albriech's stomach.

The two men were unperturbed by the defense, Albriech quickly tightening the muscles in his abdomen to lessen the possible damage from Ichigo's kick, the blow only able to push him back a few feet through the muck and earth while Baldor used the momentum from Ichigo's push to spin and lance out with a kick that almost clipped Ichigo's nose.

Ichigo leaned back to avoid the attack, bringing up Zangetsu into a guard as Albriech swung the axe once more, the orange haired man able to push the man off with ease as he dashed forward and unleashed his own strikes. The echo of smashing steel rang out through the clearing as the two men traded fierce blows back and forth, Ichigo smirking the entire time as Albriech felt sweat bead at his brow.

'I knew that Ichigo was beyond human,' Albriech thought hurriedly as he ducked low to avoid a sudden slash at his head, only to grunt in pain as he felt Ichigo's knee slam into his stomach and the pitch black blade of his friend smash into the axe held in the young smiths hands. "But this is absolutely unreal!'

Yet unknown to two of the three, Brom stood watching from the trees, eyes wide in disbelief before they were narrowed into a fierce glare. Striding forward, the old storyteller snarled loudly as he watched Baldor prepare to launch another arrow at Ichigo.

"You damn rat-addled fools! What in the blazes do you think you're doing?" he demanded hotly, the two village boys stopping dead in their tracks as they stared at Brom in surprise, while Ichigo only rolled his eyes in annoyance and propped Zangetsu on his right shoulder.

"What's it look like to you old man?" he asked sarcastically, as the other two watched the Dragon Rider and the village's storyteller stare each other down. "I was in the middle of trying to whip these two into fighting shape, until somebody with a smoking problem decided it would be a brilliant idea to interfere."

Brom scowled darkly as he moved to face Ichigo, the elder man still lightly surprised at the height, and all-consuming aura of power he sensed from the future Leader of the Dragon Riders. Brom was able to disguise it rather quickly however, as he began to berate the young man in earnest as his anger took hold.

"Don't be a fool boy!" the old storyteller whispered harshly, eyes flashing in anger and something else that Ichigo could barely distinguish as Brom poked Ichigo in the chest. "Too many people have died to ensure you could exist! And now thousands more wait for you to reach the Varden in one piece so as to aid them in their struggle against the King. And I'll be struck blind, deaf and willingly become an addle-minded fool before I let you get yourself killed because of a training incident! Now that you're a Dragon Rider, you think you're invincible! It doesn't work like that boy!"

Brom's last words echoed throughout the training field as the crows screeched and the animals fled from the fury held within them. Ichigo however said not a word, he simply stared the old man down with a fierce glare of his own; hard brown eyes glinting with a fire that shook Brom to his core as Ichigo lifted Zangetsu from his shoulder and slammed it tip first into the earth.

"Don't think that just because you know about my dragon I'm not going to beat your ass black and blue old man for trying to cut in on something you wouldn't understand," Ichigo said sharply, hands at his sides and his reiatsu flaring wildly. Brom, despite his hard scowl and fierce temper felt his eyes go wide as he tried to withstand the sudden weight that began to press down upon him like a cart full of stones. His knees began to shake and his brow became slick as he stared into the orange haired man's glowing eyes.

"But if you don't think I'm ready then by all means draw your sword and I'll show you just how wrong you are old man," Ichigo demanded, drawing Zangetsu up to rest on his shoulder once more as a faint blue aura surrounded his body.

"What are you talking about-?" Brom started to ask until his instincts blared to life with the force of a cannon, eyes wide as he launched himself to the side and drew the sheathed sword from his hip. Open mouthed and struck silent Brom felt a faint shiver race up his back at the sight of Ichigo slamming Zangetsu into the earth with such tremendous strength that it caused the point of impact to rumble and crack. Brom felt his grip tighten anxiously upon the cool, leather wrapped hilt of his blade; the silver blade glinting wickedly as Brom then watched stupefied as Ichigo simply vanished into thin air with a gust of wind.

"What in the blazes?!" Brom cried out in alarm, until the hairs on the back of his neck stood tall and he felt a sharp point press onto the juncture between his spinal column and skull. Brom froze in place as the sharp sting of steel poking into his skin shot through his body, until the cold steel of the blade was removed. Turning his head Brom could only stare at the blank, and unimpressed expression of Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Is that all you got?" Ichigo asked coldly with a bored look on his face, idly inspecting Zangetsu's blade as Brom slowly rose to his feet, the blade still pressed into the back of the older man's neck as he turned and eyed the younger man warily.

"Cause if it is, then this is going to be easier than I thought," Ichigo remarked as he lunged forward, the sharp clang of steel echoing through the field as Brom managed to raise his blade in a sloppy parry, shoving the black blade aside. Yet his accomplishment was short lived as Brom was then quickly forced to throw up his blade into a guard, as the blade of his foe smashed into his own.

The old man felt surprise flash through him as he struggled to push the boy away, yet he had little time to reflect on it as the orange haired man began to move like lightning itself, lashing out at Brom's side in the blink of an eye with a thrust that would have skewered the man had he not managed to dodge to the side in time. Again and again every stroke of the boy's blade pushed Brom back, the aged man utterly focused simply on surviving the encounter as the two other men and the mighty dragon watched on in silence. Until Baldor stuck out his hand towards Albriech and spoke.

"Ten crowns on Ichigo."

"You're utterly daft if you think I'm taking such a stupid bet Baldor."

"Can't blame a bloke for trying."

Ichigo kept his expression tightly fixed as he pressed the advantage, twirling his blade in his right hand as he ducked beneath a sharp thrust from Brom before he stepped forward and launched his clenched fist into the older man's gut. Holding back on his considerable strength, Ichigo was rewarded by a heavy thud and whoosh of air as Brom was shoved back a few feet from the strike. The old man's hand soon found its way to his abused stomach, his breathing erratic as his fell to his knees and his sword was used to prop himself upright.

"Have I proven my point old man?" Ichigo asked as he quirked his brow and placed Zangetsu back in the sheath strapped to his back. Crossing his arms, Ichigo watched as Brom uttered a few words in a near silent whisper and flared his spiritual energy, quirking his brow in confusion as Brom then removed his hand from his side and seemed to breathe easier.

Brom breathed deeply in order to lessen the pain lancing through his body, feeling his magic course through his body as he tried to heal himself. The boy's strength was monstrous, on par with even some of the elves that Brom had met through his very long life. And his skill with a blade was simply extraordinary, and perhaps even greater than Brom himself if he was right in that the boy had held back considerably.

Noticing the hand now held in front of his face, Brom looked up to the sharp gaze of Ichigo Kurosaki as the young man smirked crookedly at the old storyteller. Chuckling harshly but with mirth clear on his face, Brom clasped Ichigo's hand and was easily helped to his feet by the younger man. Releasing a soft chuckle Brom clasped the boy on the shoulder and propped his blade at his side.

"Indeed you did lad… Indeed you did."

Figured I should point this out, seeing as it just occurred to me but Ichigo has all of his powers in this and any other story I write for Bleach. So SPOILERS for those who didn't read the manga.

So, yeah after the final battle Ichigo get's all of the power Yhwach stole from him back, (so yay for Quincy and Hollow powers!), instead of essentially just being made into a pure Shinigami. Especially after Kubo kinda sorta used the last chapter to hint that Ichigo's son Kazui was in some way given these powers instead because of the whole "kid has a zanpakutou and shihakusho" which I assume is made out of pure reishi like Ichigo's was in the beginning instead of an Asauchi. Well that and having absorbed some of Yhwachs spirit energy... so yeah I figure that covers my bases.

So Ichigo has Blut, Hollow powers, and is all in all as powerful now as he was by the end of teh final battle with Yhwach. So, all I can say is that Galbatorix is royally fucked by the time we get to Inheritance.