-KB-chan is signing on-
Hello again! Chapter 3 of Time Traveler's Life! Hmm, well I really don't have anything to say, other than "Thank you for all who Story Alert/Author Alert/Favorite TTL!"
Now it's time for our favorite part of the chapter! Review Replies, were you have to look at the actual review to understand what I'm talking about! (NOT)
Umbra8191: Daw, thanks.
Tango Dancer: Lol, ikr? Naw, it's not that I don't LIKE them... it's important to the story, consider how I plan this to go... (not really, I'm just kinda winging it right now ^^;) And about Shisen, I'm thinking more of a cousin, since I'm guessing that Yoruichi never had a sister/daughter. Kisaki... Hmm, well I guess she could've been MK's daughter... Oh well, only thing left to do is question her!
daydreamer1008: Hahaha! So true, I guess that is the reason. Too bad Ichi's not gonna help him much.
inuxkag1000: Thank you. Thank you. And I will!
Sky. Night. Rain: Oh thank god! Don't kill me DX I won't be able to do as you wish if I'm dead!
Sjsofi: X'DDDDD
Anonymous: Thank you, I was working to make sure it didn't stick too much to the canon. As for the 'future' Ichigo, He's still going to be born normally, just that 'Shiro' will actually see himself and know it's time to go back. Kinda like HP 3. And please no Bala-to-the-face, my brother does that enough to me DX
a very lazy person: I can see where you're coming from. I'm glad you reviewed, and as for why Shiro's friends look like his other group, well... It's an important part to the story. But you're right, I shouldn't have put in so many OC's in such a short amount of time, and now I feel kinda bad that I'm adding ANOTHER one... As for changing the timeline, he was sent back 100 years, yes, but please try not to forget that years do pass from when Renji and Rukia were kids. I tweaked that timeline, going from 10 years to 50. So please bear with me for this. Thanks again for the review, and I'll try to do better with this next chapter! (LONGREPLYISLONG!)
Suicide Heal: Thanks~!
OpenSourceArtist: Ah? Really! Thank you for the complement! I'm thinking of explaining that in this chapter, as 'Shiro's going to be visiting the Inner World to get a better grasp on this. But, not until after I put in a mirror scene, since Ichigo hasn't had the proper time to freak out yet, kukuku~
Disclaimer: I don't know why people have to do this, I mean it's fanfiction. Pointless. But I own nothing, not even the idea. Credit goes to BadyGuz for coming up with the idea. Actual story, however, does belong to me. You steal it, I Kill You. XD
Summary: What would happen if Ichigo never used the Saigo no Getsuga Tenshō in his final fight with Aizen? What if the Hogyoku rejected Aizen before his powers lowered? What if Ichigo had been chosen, and with his heart's desire, sent back in time, 100 years ago? What if he had gained new powers during his short travel through the space-time-continuum? That's what happened, and I'm here to tell you how.
Chapter 3
Mirror Reflections
Reiatsu flooded the room as the students took their seats. Although Shiro sat near Musei and Shizuka, his new friends sat right next to him still. Shizukawa-sensei had left when everyone was 'getting to know each other,' and Ichimaru walked in a few seconds after everyone took their seats.
"Mornin', everyone!" the silver-haired man chimed. Pleasantries aside, he started to count how many students were in the room, his grin widening when the roll was only one less than full. "Mah, Musei-kun? Where's yer roomie at?" Not expecting to be called on, the dark-haired boy jumped.
"U-um... H-he, uh, s-sorta... k-kinda... didn't wake up..." He muttered nervously, fidgeting in his seat. Ichimaru chuckled at the boy, smirking as he tapped his wrist.
"Dun't worry 'bout 'im, Musei-kun. He'll be here soon 'nough." Ignoring the creepy feeling he got, Shiro sat back in his seat and watched as Gin's smile seem to widen. "In fact, let's start wit'out 'im! Git up an' get a text book 'bout the 'History o' th' Soul Society' startin' wit' th' front row."
Doing as told wasn't hard, as all the textbooks were right next to the door. Students grabbed a book, moved to let the next student grab one, then headed to their seats. One after another, the textbook count lowered, and only two were left when Shiro reached the case that contain them. Just as his hand brushed the spine of the thick hard-covered book, the door slide open with a slam that startled most students half to death. Some girls that weren't paying attention even screamed, hurting Shiro's ears. With a surprised jerk of his hand, the textbook slid off the shelf and landed right on his foot.
Instead of crying out at the pain, Shiro looked down at his foot, raising an eyebrow when all he felt was a slight throbbing sensation. He looked up at the door to see a male student slouched over his knees with shoulder length black hair and slightly tanned skin. He was breathing harshly, almost as if he'd run the whole way here, which (considering who he thought it might be) he probably did.
"Ah," the guy breathed, trying to catch his breath, "G-gomen'nasai for being late, Ichimaru-sensei." he coughed, standing up straight with his shoulders held back. He stood at approximately 6'1, his dark colored hair parted neatly down the middle.
Ichimaru's grin widened, and his slit closed eyes glanced at the new guy. "It's alright, Reikyū-kun. Jus' git ya book an' si' down." Nodding, he stood next to Shiro, grabbed the last book, and then moved to the farthest seat in the back.
Shiro growled lowly in his throat, crouching down to grab his own book off his throbbing appendage*. He sighed, the anger ebbing away as he made his way back to his seat, coincidentally right in front of the late guy. Listening to Ichimaru telling them where to open their books to, Shiro placed his cheek in his head and let his eyes roam the class, taking note of the backs of people's heads. Some students had regular hair colors, like black or browns. Others were like Shizuka and had lighter colors, like blond. There was a group of people in the front who were like him and had weird hair colors, like green and pink, blue and red. There was even a guy with them who had his hair, black, with multicolored streaks. All in all, they looked like the class punks, the ones who didn't care for the rules. If they didn't remind him so much of the punks and thugs back home, he might've went over to meet them. As it was, he wasn't going to risk it and have another group trying to terrorize him.
Someone tapped on his shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie as he turned around to find the kid from before looking at him as if it was too much work to do. "Sorry about earlier." he apologized, making Shiro think back to what the kid might've done. Oh, yeah. His foot. "I had over-slept and didn't want to be late, but you see how that worked out." He held out a hand, hoping for a handshake. "I'm Hakusha Reikyū, it's a pleasure to meet you." Shiro gripped Reikyū's hand, letting it slid out as a type of greeting.
"Shitani Shiro, pleasure's all yours." he joked, bringing a lazy smile to Reikyū's face. They both turned their attention back to Ichimaru when he started talking louder to get their attention.
"And since we have two troublemakers in the back who refuse to listen," he sighed with his usual grin, "Why don' ya'll tell us why the Seireitei has t'em Sekkiseki rocks surroundin' it?" Ichimaru glanced between the two 'troublemakers' before settling on the raven-haired boy. "Ah, let's see if ya were payin' attention, eh, Reikyū-kun?" With a groan that said, 'Why me?' Reikyū stood up from his seat, ignoring how everyone's eyes moved to him and recited,
"Sekkiseki is a material known to negate all Reiryoku. The stone forms a full spherical barrier around the city, stopping anything spiritual from breaching it. The Seireitei uses this type of rock so that Rukongai residents aren't effected by the Reiatsu of multiple Shinigami." And then he sat back down, put his head on the table, and fell asleep. Everyone deadpanned at him, wondering how he could do such a thing.
"S-sensei?" a girl questioned, glancing worriedly in Reikyū's direction. Ichimaru understood immediately, looking at Shiro.
"'Scuse me, Shiro-chan, but could ya make sure Reikyū-kun doesn' suff'cate?" Shiro blinked, his right eye twitching at the nickname.
'Now I know what Tōshirō had to put up with…' he thought, turning to his new friend again. With a sigh, he tapped the raven's head, getting a grumble in return. Twisting to face the front again, he grunted, "He's alive." Everyone let out a sound of relief, turning back to their books as Ichimaru started to talk again. Several minutes later, a loud clanging startled half the class, leading to them closing their books and walking out to their next classes.
Shiro learned he had Kidō with Shisen, Megane, and Reikyū next, walking next to the former and latter, and completely ignore how Megane complained about having to deal with him for another 2 and a half hours. He just sighed and followed the Sixth-years to the Kidō hall where they would first have theory class for an hour and forty-five minutes, and then go out to the practice field for another hour and forty-five minutes. The group sat in the relative back, close enough to the front to hear, but not so close that Reikyū would get in trouble for his narcolepsy, save for Megane, who sat in the very first row.
The rest of the class stayed standing, talking to their friends, but Shiro paid them no mind. Instead, he turned to his friends, ignoring the feel of eyes on the back of his head. They talked about trivial things, like "What were their schedules?" "Did they have any other classes together?" and "What's your dorm number? Maybe we're close to each other!" Though, it was mainly Shisen asking these questions, Reikyū and Shiro just answered, even letting the female see their schedule slips. It seemed for Shiro, he either had Shisen, Reikyū, or both in his classes, which he was grateful for.
It was a little while longer before the teacher strode in.
"My name is Yamashi Tsurai, and I'm your Kidō instructor for this year, maggots." The instructor prattled, glancing at every person in the room. "Alright, I want all of you to grab your textbooks from the front. I don't care how you do it, but I don't want all of you up at the same time!" Groans burst forth from the students throats, making the new sensei glare at everyone. He was an average-looking guy, about 5'11 with short blackish-blue hair and blue topaz eyes. He wasn't buff like a certain 11th squad captain, nor was he thin like the Quinta Espada, instead being a perfect balance between the two. His voice was a low baritone, making most of the girls swoon in their seats. Shiro blinked.
'I'm starting to question my sexuality.' he thought, earning a snicker from his Hollow. 'Seriously, I've been checking out every guy I've seen to the smallest detail.' He distinctly heard a sigh before Shirosaki burst out in giggles.
"What 'sexuality', King? You ain't even pop'd yer cherry!" Choosing to ignore the carbon copy, Shiro stood from his seat along with Shisen to grab their books, snatching up a second one for his other 'friend', who was sleeping face-down on the table once more. Dropping the book next to the napping teen's head with a SMACK, he watched as the raven sluggishly looked up at him, blinking his eyes with tiresome blankness.
"Wha-"
"I got your book for you, you narc." Shiro grumbled, sitting down next to him. Reikyū blinked, looking at the book beside him, and he blinked again.
"When did he say to get them?" he asked, laying his head down on his arms once more as he gazed up at the pale boy in front of him.
Shiro sighed in irritation, his eye twitching violently. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was after you had fallen asleep for the God-knows-what time? Or maybe it was before I had gotten up to get my own... I wonder." he sarcastically mumbled to his friend. 'This is going to be one long class...'
Hours passed by, and the class was dismissed for lunch. Instead of going to the Mess Hall like most of the other students, Shiro made his way back to his dorm room. He wasn't hungry, and he didn't need to replenish his reiatsu reserves yet. He sighed, opening the crème colored door and making his way into the room. Surprisingly, there was another bed in the room, pressed up against the wall opposite of, what he assumed was, Shizuka's own futon. He grunted in confusion, noticing how Kyōki's side of the room was cleaned up as well.
He shook his head. No use contemplating something he didn't, nor wanted to understand. Closing the door behind him, he made his way to the bathroom situated in the corner. His skin was way to hot for his liking, and he severely hoped he wasn't as red as he felt.
'Stupid Shihōin, flashing everyone like that! I have to find out her relationship to Yoruichi, she acts way too much like her!' He went straight to the sink, running the water and splashing his face with it, scrubbing the skin to wash away the tingling sensation. Hair wet water, Shiro looked up at himself in the reflective surface of the mirror and froze.
Wide gold eyes took in his own appearance, seeing it fully for the first time since he'd gone back through the time stream. The snowy locks he knew he had went to his shoulders, mimicking the way it had when he was fighting Aizen back in his own time. His skin was as white as his hair, brighter since the stray water droplets had darkened the powdery locks to a bright silver. His skin was even whiter than the Academy's uniform top. He looked back up at his eyes, the gold color reminding him eerily of his Hollow's own black-surrounded ones.
He bit his lip harshly, resisting the urge to yell out in shock. No wonder Renji had laughed at him back when they were little Rukongai brats. He pulled himself away from the mirror, and dived into his sideways inner world, that he hadn't visited at all in the fifty years he was back in the past. What he saw scared and surprised him.
His sideways world wasn't sideways anymore, instead it was spinning, like a clock. Fire licked at the base, never spreading and never going out. The sensation of spinning was dizzying, and he had to sit down for a moment. It was almost as if he was on a sideways floating platform in the sky. The sky changed from ground, to horizon, to sky and back to horizon in an everlasting counterclockwise rotation. When he could focus again, he saw how there were more platforms like the one he was on.
The platforms created a wall like structure, all spinning in one direction or the another, side-by-side and never stopping. He swallowed the sickening feeling he had from such a disgruntling change.
He stood up again, looking around and ignoring the way everything around his swirled. Hesitantly, he called out. "Zangetsu? Shirosaki?" His voice quivered, and he fought with himself if he should go looking and possibly get lost in his own inner world, or stay put and wait for them to find him. He went with the latter, and called out again, louder, "Hey, can you hear me? What happened to this place? Zangetsu! Shirosaki! Answer me!"
A soul-chilling giggle that could only belong to his Hollow sounded, and he spun around, unsheathing his sword, and meeting his Hollow head on. The copy 'tsk'ed, a demonic smile still on his face. "Yo, King. Long time no see, 'eh?" Ichigo shivered at the liquid-sounding effects his Hollow's voice held. He pushed back at his twin, since they looked the part. "I gotta say, you pull the albino look of pretty well." The only difference between the two albinos was that Ichigo's eyes didn't have the black surrounding them, and Shirosaki's hair was shorter, back in the original style they both shared when they were fifteen.
"What happened here?" he asked again, not sure if the Hollow had heard him calling before. Shirosaki frowned, and pulled away, watching with amused eyes as Ichigo fell forward on the rotating platform.
"Dunno. T'was the same sideways building when we got 'ere. Then one day, BAM! It was this rotating crap and Zangetsu was gone. Dunno where he went, but I figured he was still talkin' ta ya, considering tha's been what we've been doin' these past years. In fact, it was right afta ya met that midget girl again for the 'first' time that th' changes 'ere happened." Ichigo sat up and frowned, glancing at his Hollow as the copy mimicked his gaze.
"Something's not right." he muttered, glancing around again. "Zangetsu hasn't spoken to me at all since that last time." He shook his head, banishing thoughts he didn't want to have. "So, you have any idea why I look like you?" he asked, watching as Shirosaki scowled at him.
"Dun' ask me, I ain't smart an' insightful like Zan was. Although the reason could be because I was once part'a ya, and since our souls were connected when ya were sent back 'ere, th' 'space time continuum' tha' ya went through scrambled yer DNA ta match mine so ya didn't deteriorate, 'er somethin' like tha'." Ichigo stared in awe at his Hollow, making the copy shift back and forth from foot to foot. "Wha'?"
"That has to be the smartest thing you've ever come up with in your entire existence." Ichigo murmured, chuckling when Shirosaki pouted at him.
"Tha' was mean, King. I got a lotta stuff ta say tha' ain't stupid an' makes sense." Shaken from their conversation by a ringing vibrating through their world, Ichigo glanced up and grumbled.
"Shit, that was the bell to get to class. I gotta go." he stood up, shimmering out and back to his body when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"'Ey... Uh, come back 'gain later... This was... kinda nice, jus' talkin' wit' ya." His Hollow stuttered, making Ichigo smile at him softly.
"Aa, I'll try. It was nice not having to worry about you trying to kill me." With an indignant yell from his Hollow, he disappeared out of his rotating world, and back in the real one.
"Figure this out, King. Somethin' ain't right, an' I dun' like it."
Getting to the Zanjustu hall from the dorms wasn't easy, especially how the halls to the courtyard were crowded with students trying to get to classes on time. Surprisingly, the nostalgic thought of high school hallways entered his mind, and he scoffed. It was just like that, only worse. He managed to make it to the Zanjustu hall before the bell rang again, sitting next to Reikyū again as the raven slept on. Shisen had gone with Megane to Hakuda Theory, as the boy next to him informed before drifting off once more.
A loud BANG from the hallway caused most of the class to jump out of their seats and run to the door. A little boy about the size of a five-year-old groaned in pain, his blond hair falling over his eyes as he sat up. "Ow..." he muttered, pouting at the wall. All the girls squealed at how 'cute' he was, making the little boy glance up and shriek. "W-where did you all come from?" he exclaimed, backing up against the wall he was just looking at. Shiro made a questioning sound in the back of his throat, pushing his way through the crowd in front of the door to get a better look at the boy. He had the Academy uniform on, though it was a size too large for his frame. His eyes were scared as people tried to get closer to him, and after spotting the white hair of Shiro, dodged the pouncing fangirls and scrambled up the albino's shoulders for safety.
Shiro raised an eyebrow at the trembling boy, and sighed. "Great..." he muttered. 'More strays have attached themselves to me.' He heard Shirosaki snicker, and growled inwardly at the Hollow. "Can I help you?" he asked, his golden eyes meeting the emerald green ones of the little boy. In a sense, the boy reminded him of his sisters in the future.
"Yeah, you can keep all those... people away from me. All day I've been chased, girls calling out 'kawaii' as they ran after me, and I'm tired. I just want to rest, but that's not going to happen if these people keep trying to pet me." the boy complained and Shiro smirked.
"Alright, I can do that." he nodded, backing up to his seat, keeping an eye on the advancing group. If it wasn't for the sudden arrival of the teacher, both he and the little boy would've been pancakes.
"Everyone, down in your seats! I don't give a damn for what's going on, but if you don't pay attention and learn, you're outta here! Got it?" Just like a drill sergeant, the teacher bellowed out orders, students following them to a point. The class went by faster and soon they were trying out what they had learned in the Theory section of the class during Practical. Two students would face off at the front of the class using their asauchi they were given, while the others watched. Shiro even went as far as to try and guess which student would win, and why the other lost. Reikyū had stayed awake, for the most part, and had won his match when he was called. After an hour had passed, Shiro was called up for his turn, and, lifting the boy from earlier off his shoulders and into his seat, went down to the front of the room, listening to the whispers of the class as he passed.
"Look at him! A First-Year learning with the Sixth-Years! He must think he's special or something."
"He looks so weird! He's all white, it's almost blinding!"
"What's up with his eyes, they're such an unusual color."
Sighing, already used to the whispers, Shiro stood in front of the teacher, waiting to see who his opponent would be. "Shimakishi Riku shall be your partner for this match." The teacher ground out, either irritated at the talk his students were doing, or he didn't like 'Riku' very much.
"Ah man!" a voice called out, pulling Shiro's attention to the student standing up from his seat. He was big, both in muscle mass and weight, and Shiro blanched at the thought of fighting that.
"You mean I have to fight... that?" he voiced his thoughts lowly, so only the teacher heard him. He heard the guy sigh.
"Yeah, unfortunately. And as much as I hate the kid, he's one of the best, so don't cry when you lose." Shiro rolled his eyes.
"You think I can't beat him?" he asked, watching how the man reacted as the student in question made his way down.
"No one has yet, and I don't think anyone will. But tell you what, let's make a bet." he chuckled lowly. "If you don't beat him, you have to clean all the Zanjustu Halls." Shiro smirked, not that the teacher saw.
"And if I beat him, you're bet goes right back at you." With a discrete shake of hands, Shiro watched as the mountain of a man stepped up in front of him.
"Another insect I have to crush? C'mon, why don't ya'll just graduate me now so I can enter them Squads ya'll want us to get into?" Shiro growled at being called a bug, and memorized his opponents stance.
"Won't do it, now begin!" And at the call, the giant known as Riku charged, reminding him of the eleventh squad captain.
'I've beaten things more powerful than an Academy student, and that's not going to change now.' Shiro thought, and set into action. The clang of metal on metal had the class in awe, and the teacher stood dumbfounded at how easily he blocked the powerful swing. 'His center of balance is off, and he swings with all his power for the first time. This guy is weak!' With a parry and barely a slide of feet, he had the giant's asauchi ten feet away from its user, and the tip of his own Zanpakutō at the man's throat. "I win." Silence ensued after that, and the teacher weakly called out.
"M-match, Shitani." His face had sunk, and a look of despair rolled in. Shiro smirked again, and looked back at the teacher.
"Have fun cleaning the Zanjutsu Halls, Sensei." And with that, he made his way back to his seat in silence, a content smirk still on his face.
*Does this sound wrong to anyone else? It does to me~!
3799 words this chap. Hmm, Maybe I should've added that part where he explained what was wrong with Riku and why he lost, since that scene was a little pathetic... Oh well, it's too late to change it now~!
HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY, AMERICA! I gotta go set the fireworks off, so I might start writing Chapter 4 next week. Maybe get it out BEFORE the 1 day left mark... Sorry to the fans who waited for this so long!
-KB-chan signing off-