Disclaimer: Not mine

We are now in non-prewritten territory so expect slower updates.
I removed Orihime from the poll cause I just can't see it with how this is going.

Chapter 4

Isshin looked at his son, wishing he could firmly state he trusted him but that small part of him screamed Ichigo was a threat, especially to the girls and he hated himself for it. Ichigo had done nothing to deserve that distrust, he'd even fallen asleep against Isshin with the expectation someone would kill him. "I'll bring them by later this evening," he finally answered and was rewarded with a shy smile. It hurt that it took being made into a Hollow for Ichigo to be so free with emotion and he knew a lot of it was his fault, he'd been too lost in grief, too concerned with keeping them hidden from Soul Society that he'd failed as a Father, mostly to Ichigo but even the girls.

"Right then, it looks like your body has accepted your altered soul," Kisuke announced cheerfully.

"So?" Shinji eyed him, wondering what he was thinking.

"There's the matter of food." And the training ground went silent.

"Food?" Ichigo looked between them in confusion.

"Do you remember eating?" Shinji asked and Ichigo considered it.

"They gave me Hollows," he shrugged slightly, was that not right?

"Let's leave that as a last resort."

And then Tessai was there with a plate which he handed to Ichigo. Shinji shooed the others off again, not wanting to make Ichigo feel more awkward about this than he already was.

"Human food Ichigo, you're in a human body so let's see if you can manage that," Kisuke explained.

Ichigo took the plate slowly and stared at the food, on a stick? He picked it up awkwardly and pulled one off the stick, putting it in his mouth, chewing a little before swallowing.

Isshin watched as Ichigo seemed confused by the Dango but at least he seemed to realise the stick wasn't for eating. Ichigo wasn't a big sweet eater but he did enjoy Dango occasionally which was probably why it was what had been served. He didn't look disgusted which was good, but would it do more than fuel his human body?

"Yuzu….makes this…Dango?" Ichigo looked at his Dad, uncertain and Isshin smiled.

"One of the few sweets you'll eat," he agreed as Ichigo took another one.

He made a bit of a mess, but no one was going to point that out. Ichigo closed his eyes, the body felt better now, an odd feeling he'd only been partially aware of fading the more he ate. Hungry, he'd been hungry and now he wasn't. was that just the body? He concentrated and then smiled. "Not hungry," he announced and Isshin relaxed, they'd have to watch what and how often Ichigo ate to make sure all hungers were being handled.

"Anyone else wondering where it is?" Rose asked softly from where they had gathered so as not to hover while Ichigo tried eating.

"His Zanpakutō?" Love glanced at him and then Ichigo and Rose nodded.

"The other Arrancar have them, maybe it takes time to reform?" Hachi offered, they just didn't know enough about Arrancar.

"Maybe…Zangetsu protected him?" They glanced at Lisa, who was watching Ichigo. "It is very unusual for a Hollow to retain any memories, let alone the amount Ichigo has. Perhaps his inner spirits acted to preserve their wielder as much as they could. In that case it would take time for them to recover, or they no longer exist." The very idea of losing their Zanpakutō horrified the Visored and they all hoped Ichigo's would return. They considered returning to the warehouse but stayed in case of attack or if Ichigo needed restraining, they didn't know how he would react to every situation after all.

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Karin and Yuzu walked out of his school only to see their Dad waiting which was odd, what was even odder was the serious expression on his face and their hearts sank Ichi-nii… they walked quickly to his side and he dropped a hand down onto their heads. "Dad?" Yuzu whispered.

"I have a lot to talk with you about, but not here." He led them through town to an old store where he ushered them inside. He sat at a table and they followed him.

"Where are we? Is something wrong?" Karin demanded.

"Is Ichi-nii okay?" Yuzu demanded, arms crossed.

"He…hasn't been at camp," Isshin admitted and Karin rolled her eyes.

"Of course, he isn't, school's still in session," she muttered.

Isshin hesitated but then began explaining about Shinigami and Hollows. He then moved on to how Ichigo became a Shinigami and Rukia's rescue. He told them about Aizen and the coming war and the attacks around town and Karin nodded, she'd been able to sense some of those attacks. Then he told them the truth about their Mum, that a Hollow had killed her, and Yuzu curled into Karin, seeking comfort. He then explained how Ichigo was actually a Visored, a Shinigami with Hollow powers, that he'd been away training those powers the last time he'd disappeared, how he had gained control of those powers.

Yuzu bit her lip, putting it all together. "Ichi-nii was hurt or captured?" she asked softly, and Karin stiffened beside her in alarm for their brother, but it was the only reason Yuzu could see for their Dad to be so serious and explaining all this. Neither girl could imagine him as a Captain, except seeing him like this they sort of could.

"Both," Isshin admitted. "A rescue party of Ichigo's friends were sent as Soul Society refused to risk it. They found him but…" how was he meant to tell them?

"He's alive?" Karin demanded and Isshin nodded, letting both girls relax, they hadn't lost their brother. That didn't mean their Dad was off the hook, Karin was beyond mad at him for not telling them all of this years ago, or at least when Ichigo gained Shinigami powers. She wanted to hit him, to scream but she held back, there was more, maybe the worst, and he needed to be conscious to finish explaining.

"I told you of the Visored and Arrancar, Ichigo was a Visored. Aizen likes to…experiment." He couldn't say it.

"He hurt Ichi-nii," Yuzu whispered, hugging herself. Ichigo didn't deserve that!

Karin frowned, experiment, Dad kept mentioning Arrancar…was that even possible? But Arrancar were Hollows… "What did he do to him?" she demanded, hands clenched into fists. "Did he…did he make him a Hollow?" her question made Yuzu gasp eyes wide, but Karin kept her glare locked on their Dad. Karin remembered what she'd felt around Chad's bird and then that day when Chad had come and helped her on the field with her directing where to hit, that had been before Rukia had needed rescuing. She's seen and heard more since then but usually in the distance. The thought of Ichigo turned into one of those things…would they even recognise him? Would he try to eat them? Would his friends try to kill him?

Isshin winced at how perceptive his daughters could be at times. "Aizen has an…artefact that is very powerful. It is how he made his army and how he created the Visored against their wills. He used it on Ichigo, planning to turn him into a loyal soldier. You know your brother, he doesn't let anyone control him. It transformed his soul from a visored into a Hollow and then Aizen locked him up and sent Hollows in for him to fight and then…consume. When the rescue team got there, Ichigo was feral, reacting out of fear and pain." Isshin couldn't look at them as he explained, and Karin pulled Yuzu into a hug as she began sobbing.

"Is he still…" Karin couldn't say it, but then how would they have rescued him if he was trying to fight them?

"Urahara yelled at him and it began jogging his memories, in the end he saved first Shinji and then Urahara. They brought him back here and, in the end, he transformed into an Arrancar. His soul form looks almost human now, other than a mask fragment and Hollow hole. He's not the Ichigo you knew, but he is still Ichigo. His memories are…scattered. He remembered you and asked to see you. He has managed to return to his body, so he won't look any different and Yuzu will be able to see him. Just be careful, I don't believe he'd knowingly hurt you but he's no longer human and that has impacted his way of thinking."

"But he's still Ichi-nii. Where is he?" Yuzu pleaded shakily, he needed them! They would help him remember.

Isshin stood and lead them to the ladder to climb down, going first in case one of them slipped.

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Ichigo paced nervously, he could feel his Dad upstairs plus two weaker signatures, it had to be Yuzu and Karin. What would they think of him now? Would they hate him?

"Calm down," Shinji grabbed his arm to keep him still. "Deep breaths, you need to keep control. You don't want to scare or hurt them," he made eye contact and breathed deeply, relieved when Ichigo followed his lead. "That's it." He didn't move when Ichigo pressed closer, leaning into him. "I've got you, we won't let anything bad happen." He promised and Ichigo nodded, straightening up as the three signatures moved closer.

Ichigo turned away to see his Dad and the two girls with him, he knew them, his sisters. They stared at him with wide eyes and Ichigo took a hesitant step towards them before faltering, would he scare them?

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Yuzu stared at Ichigo, he looked normal, but this was his body, what did he look like out of it? She saw him take a half step towards them, saw the uncertainty and yearning in his eyes and she ran forward even as their Dad reached out to stop her.

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Ichigo froze as Yuzu ran to him and then he fell to his knees as she slammed into him, clinging, and he wrapped his arms around her, being careful not to hold too tight. "Yuzu," he breathed, burying his head in her hair, inhaling her scent.

"Ichi-nii," she sobbed into his shirt and he rocked her gently, automatically trying to sooth her.

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Shinji grinned at the sight, relaxing when he saw how gentle Ichigo was with the girl, they'd all been alarmed when she'd run to him, that he'd take it as an attack, but apparently big brother instincts were stronger.

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Isshin watched as his children clung to each other, feeling relieved. He glanced down at Karin, saw the tears in her eyes that she refused to shed and gave her a gentle push forward. He hadn't seen Karin cry since Masaki died and to see her fighting tears now hurt. He wished he hadn't had to tell them, but there was no way to hide how different Ichigo was now. And with Karin's slowly growing powers, if she couldn't feel the changes to Ichigo she soon would and that would have caused unnecessary fear.

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Karin slowly walked over and reached out to put her hand on Ichigo's shoulder. He raised his head and blinked at her before smiling and unwrapping an arm from around Yuzu. Karin sank down and curled into his side. He felt different and it was scary, but this was her big brother, no matter what, he would never hurt them. "I missed you," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo choked out and she shook her head.

"it's not your fault." She buried her head in his shoulder. "Just don't leave again," she whispered, but she knew he couldn't give that promise. There was a war on and what if the Shinigami turned on him?

"I'll try," he finally said, and she knew that was as good as he could promise.

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Ichigo finally pulled back enough to study them, memorising what they looked like, happy that he had remembered them properly. "I love you," he choked out, he reached up, feeling something wet on his face, confused.

"You're crying," Yuzu whispered, sounding surprised.

Crying? What was that? His chest felt tight, his throat close. He looked up as a hand landed in his hair to see his Dad smiling sadly.

"It's alright Ichigo, crying is normal in very emotional situations."

He nodded, accepting his Dad's assurance, unable to bring himself to let his sisters go just yet.

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Kisuke stood back with the Visored, watching the family reunion and a glance over showed the women trying not to get emotional as they watched. He was very happy that the reunion was going so well, if anything was going to survive his transformation, it was his love for his sisters and his driving need to protect them.

"What are we going to do? Aizen obviously wants Soul Society to know what Ichigo has become. War allies or not, Central 46 will order his death," Shinji asked softly, not wanting to interrupt the family.

"Having the Kuchiki on his side will help," Kisuke admitted. "I will reach out to those Captain and lieutenants I believe will be willing to listen and judge for themselves. Unohana would be a good ally, Kyōraku and Ukitake perhaps. I know Kyōraku did not agree with the way you were all sentenced to death immediately. You willing to let them know of your survival? That you have such control may help."

"It was going to come out eventually, as soon as Aizen himself appeared in a fight we would have moved. Just be careful, there are a lot of lives on the line," Shinji warned and Kisuke nodded.

Eventually the three siblings separated although the girls stayed close to their brothers' side. Kisuke just sighed and went to find more bedding only to find Tessai had already dug it out. Tessai and Hachi then worked together to strengthen the protections on the shop to rival those of the Visored's warehouse. Jinta and Ururu were being kept busy running the shop upstairs with Tessai helping out, freeing him to focus on helping Ichigo adapt while trying to work out the best way to deal with Soul Society. He knew they had been very lucky that Byakuya had intercepted the footage of their confrontation with the very obvious Hollow. That luck wouldn't last forever.

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Unohana raised a hand, allowing the Jigokuchō to perch on her finger. She listened as the message from Urahara was delivered. It was strange that he was asking to speak with her in person and she wondered if it was to do with Kurosaki. She knew the ex-Captain had gone on the rescue mission, had they found the young man alive and in bad enough condition to need her expertise? She stood and gathered what she may need before going to speak with Isane since she would be absent for some time. As much as she disliked the idea, Kurosaki was necessary in the war, he was a powerful fighter and had not seen Aizen's Shikai where all other lieutenant and captain level fighters had. She passed through the Senkaimon.

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Kisuke stood, waiting for the Captain of the Fourth just outside his shop where he had redirected the Senkaimon arrival point. It was better for everyone if they didn't surprise Ichigo or the Visored. It opened and Unohana stepped out, looking as calm as ever. "Captain Unohana, welcome to my humble shop." He bowed to her and she smiled

"Urahara, you sent for my aide. I assume it is to do with Kurosaki and that you were successful in retrieving him."

"Please, come inside." He led her inside and they sat at a table. "We did indeed retrieve Ichigo and he is alive. Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained have already healed and scarred. I assume you realise that the crime for which I was exiled was actually performed by Aizen?"

"Yes, I assumed as such after he was revealed. I never thought you would harm your own lieutenant either which made me doubt the original charges, unfortunately the Central 46 did not wish to listen. I know I was not the only Captain to doubt your guilt."

"That is…a relief to know," he admitted. It had hurt that they had all been so quick to believe his guilt. "And what of the order to execute those who had been Hollowfied?"

"Without being allowed to examine them myself I was….concerned with the speed of such a decision. They were some of our strongest, with so many lost there were promotions that should have waited, weakening the Divisions, which I now realise was the plan."

"And if I told you they were alive and well and still themselves?"

"I would be pleased that Aizen failed to destroy them. Is that why I am here? To act as a witness for their sanity and control? Or…is their condition relevant to Kurosaki?"

"They call themselves Visored and are allied with Ichigo, because he is, or was, one of them. Die to the method used to restore his Shinigami powers to rescue Rukia, Ichigo was forced to find his powers or become a Hollow. He barely claimed his Shinigami powers in time, and in doing so, gained an inner Hollow. After nearly losing control in his first fights with the Espada, the Visored approached him and offered training. He had completed it and had control when he was taken. Aizen…" Kisuke hesitated.

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Unohana listened to his explanation without interrupting. It was a relief to hear that those who had suffered because of Aizen were still alive and themselves. She doubted they held any love for Soul Society due to what had happened, but it was good they had reached out to help Kurosaki. She did feel the urge to demand exactly what Urahara had done to restore the boys' power that had led to him almost becoming a Hollow. And she had not missed his reference to Kurosaki having been a Visored, as if he was no longer one of them. If there was a way to be rid on an inner Hollow surely the others would have used it, so she doubted that was the reason. More and more of Aizen's sickening work had been coming to light now that they knew to look, just what had he done? "What did he do to the boy?"

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"He used the Hōgyoku on Ichigo to transform his soul into its opposite form," he finally answered her question and he watched her consider his words.

"A Hollow?" she finally asked, and he nodded.

"The plan was for either Ichigo to kill his rescuers or for us to kill him. Aizen ensured he evolved quickly so that he was an Adjuchas when we found him. He showed no memory of us and attacked. However, I managed to trigger his memory when he went to use a cero against Shinji by screaming his name. It took Shinji nearly dying for him to come back to himself and then he defended us, evolving further into a Vasto Lorde. It was then that he finally spoke, although it was rather broken. His memories are incomplete, he has no memory of his Mother and yet she was very important to him. He remembers his Father and sisters and all of us. Although he did not remember my name, just the nickname he gave me. He also became an Arrancar by removing his mask and that was what brought back many of his memories and the ability to speak properly. He can still return to his body as well."

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Unohana refused to show the horror she felt at the idea of Aizen being able to turn someone into a Hollow against their will. They had taken a great risk in trying to reach Kurosaki and yet it appeared to have paid off. "I assume he is here?"

"Yes, we thought it too risky for him to return home as it is undefended for the most part. His whole family is here for their safety should Aizen attempt to reacquire him or use his sisters as leverage. Our concern is the reaction of Soul Society, especially the Central 46."

"We are currently under martial law, so the decision would rest with the Soutaichou, at least for now. I will need to see him and observe before I can make a decision on whether I will speak for Kurosaki."

"Understandable."

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Ichigo sat with Shinji and his sisters, watching curiously as the girls worked on something on paper. He was on edge, he had been told that Geta-boshi was talking with a Captain and he was nervous how they would react to him. He looked back at his sisters, he should know what it was they were doing but it was blank. He reached out, running his fingers over the black markings, frowning as he fought to remember. He was so focused he didn't realise Geta-boshi had returned.

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Unohana leapt to the bottom of the ladder with Urahara, seeing the scattered people she had once worked besides, able to sense their wariness of her presence and while their presence was tainted, it was still mostly that of a Shinigami. There was one presence that screamed Hollow and she moved forward until she could see four people sitting together. The two young girls had to be Kurosaki's sisters and they seemed unbothered by their brother's presence as he sat with them…Captain Hirako sitting with him. She almost didn't recognise him with his hair so much shorter. She held back as Kurosaki touched the paper, focusing on it and she wondered just how damaged he had been by the forced transformation, wanting to examine him but she doubted he would allow it after what he had been through. She was close enough to listen as the girls chatted about their work.

"School work?" Ichigo asked, sounding very hesitant and unsure, not something she had expected. Even when he'd been in her care, almost bisected by Aizen, he had been sure of himself.

The lighter haired girl smiled and nodded, moving her paper to gently explain what was on it. This was not Hollow behaviour at all.

TBC..