Disclaimer: Me own Bleach? Yeah right. Tite Kubo does. However, I do own my OC under the name of Mai because the name Kurosaki Masaki belongs to Kubo-san as well.
Feedback: Thanks to all my reviews and alert-adders (Don't be shy review!) Reviews keep me writing, so please review! However, flames aren't appreciated, so please don't flame.
Mysticalphoenix-avalon- Thanks a lot for your review! I would have replied to you via PM but you have them disabled. Yeah, you can't help bad for Orihime or if Rukia were in her position. And, as for Byakuya, he's a hard character to write and I was trying to show his denial through his words and his dismissive gesture as he doesn't even look at Rukia as he passes her. But then, again, he's always dismissive, isn't he? But don't you worry, I give insight to Byakuya's feelings in this chapter. Kudos to you, for inspiring to write that, because I originally didn't have that planned for this chapter.
AN: Good news, I've finally finished my drawing of Masaki. You can find the link to my deviant art page on my profile, just scroll down to the end, and click on it. I have two drawings on there Masaki as she looks in the future and the scene at the end of Chapter 2 when Ichigo meets Masaki for the first time. My design of Masaki may not be the greatest thing ever, but I supposed it's better than words hehe. It's my first time ever using photoshop so I'm proud of the end result anyway. I used to draw all the time, but I then life got in the way and I stopped, but I've started feeling creative again with this story, and I hope my drawings will be better in the future!
Masaki may not look tough, but as you will see in future chapters she is. She wouldn't be Ichigo and Rukia's daughter if she weren't tough, now would she? My avatar on my profile is Masaki, Ichigo's mom, which is the picture I'm basing my claim that my OC's face shape is shaped similar to hers as opposed to Rukia.
Have you guys read Bleach Ch 423? Funny stuff about the haoris…. Sad at the end. I say Kubo-san needs to take a longer break than 2 weeks to focus his brain on what he's doing next.
Edited formatting 1/30/18
Disregarding, the annoying stinging sensation of the cold rain pelting him, Ichigo rushed towards his inner Hollow, bringing Tensa Zangetsu hard and fast down on him. The sound of pouring rain filled his ears, almost muffling entirely the sound of the clink of metal as his black blade connected against the white blade held by his white doppelganger.
As usual, a maniacal grin danced across his inner Hollow's features, eyes gleaming with eagerness, although they were just the slightest bit narrowed, reflecting an almost curious, quizzical expression as they regarded Ichigo's sullen face.
"Not even a hello?" he asked, brushing away Ichigo's blade with a quick flick of his wrist.
Silent, Ichigo launched another attack, swinging his Zanpakutō low, towards his opponent's stomach, but his Hollow easily twisted his white blade downward blocking Ichigo's blow. Ichigo's scowl deepened as he concentrated on pushing his blade against his inner Hollow's but he vanished.
The orange haired teen glanced up. Raising his katana above his head he stopped an incoming strike, struggling to keep his eyes open as the rain assaulted them; the clouds instead of floating vertically were actually positioned horizontally across the sky.
"Aren't ya gonna talk, King?" His inner Hollow asked, yellow eyes staring straight down at Ichigo's blinking amber orbs.
Still not receiving a reply, the Hollow frowned, pushing his katana over Ichigo's with so much force, he sent the substitute Shinigami plummeting towards the dark ocean. Just as he was about to reach the surface, he righted himself Shunpoeing once more towards his opponent.
His Hollow, however, appeared behind him, raking him across the back and giving him a hard, powerful kick, causing Ichigo to open his mouth and cough out blood. Without missing a beat, he slashed his shoulder as he rushed him from the side, turning to yet again clash against Ichigo's blade, who had somehow managed to angle his blade in front of him.
"So, you've come so I can put you out of your misery is that it?" His inner Hollow taunted, sounding slightly annoyed. "I don't mind as long as I stop this damn rain. This place is nearly flooded."
Ichigo merely glared at him, his scowl deepening, focusing his energy on holding his Hollow back.
"You'd think there'd be a ray of light, a rainbow, or something to show you're happy about the news. Congrats, Tou-san, it's a girl!" His inner Hollow said, grinning wickedly.
"Bastard!" Ichigo finally spoke, eyes burning like molten amber, hurling himself towards his Hollow, who had stepped away from him, swinging his katana straight at him only to cut through water.
He turned, sensing his white counterpart behind him, furiously swinging his katana at him, trying desperately to cut him.
"What the hell is your problem, King?" his inner Hollow smirked, dodging every single attempt made against him. "Aren't you happy about the Princess?"
Ichigo's response was to aim for his head, but he quickly lowered himself, ramming his fist into the substitute Shinigami's stomach, resulting in more blood spilling out of his mouth.
"She isn't real you bastard, Aizen created her," Ichigo said lifting his head. His hair was completely soaked and plastered to his head and blood trickled down the corners of his mouth and his chin.
"You think Aizen created her?" His inner Hollow let out a psychotic cackle as he Shunpoed away from him. "You're an idiot. Why in the hell would he do that?"
Furrowing his eyebrows, Ichigo tightened his grip on Tensa Zangetsu, glaring at him.
"Not only are your killing instincts lacking, but your instincts to tell what's yours. I knew since the moment I laid eyes on her and sensed that pathetic Reiatsu she was emitting, she was yours and the Queen's."
Ichigo stared at him, his mouth tightening.
"You could have known this the minute you met her, but as usual, you're letting your brain rule you instead of your instincts….and you don't know shit. People that are related have a similar Reiatsu. All you have to do is focus on the pattern."
"It doesn't matter how her Reiatsu feels, she isn't real," Ichigo snapped, glowering at his Hollow.
"She is real, you moron," his inner Hollow assured him. "Can't believe you're denying your little girl… you're such a bastard…I wonder what the Queen thinks…"
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo shouted.
His inner Hollow easily sidestepped the attack, smirking. "I always knew there was something between you. All that sexual tension when you…"
"W-What the hell are you talking about?" Ichigo shouted exasperated, his cheeks becoming pink.
"Don't deny it," his Hollow said leering at him.
"Deny it? I don't even know who this Queen is!" Ichigo yelled, still blushing.
His inner Hollow cocked his head to the side, studying him, his eyes glittering with disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me? I know you're stupid, but how can you be that stupid? Of all people, why the hell did I get stuck with you as the King?" He raised his left hand to his face as if he were ashamed, brushing back his white spikes, which were oddly enough not affected by the rain. "How the hell do you not know who the Queen is? The Princess has the Queen's eyes, you dumb ass."
Ichigo froze.
She has the Queen's eyes? Her eyes they're violet…
Unwillingly the image of her came into his mind. Her orange hair pulled back from her face except for the two loose strands that spilled out over her forehead and the thicker chin length bangs that framed it, the face that was shaped similarly to his mother's, those large violet eyes that resembled…
Suddenly the image of Rukia flashed in his mind. Her large violet eyes, that lone dark strand that fell across her face.
"Ru-Rukia," Ichigo stammered, shocked, eyes wide open.
"Who else would the Queen be?" his inner Hollow muttered sarcastically, "The healer chick?"
Bastard. he made her have those violet eyes because of Rukia.
He'd been so angry with that fact that her face was shaped like his mother's that he hadn't really considered why Aizen had chosen to make her with those violet eyes. Now he knew.
So, that's why Rukia had to stay with Unohana-san.
He could feel his anger rising again, like a bubbling volcano, threatening to blow up. How dare that bastard make it seem as if he and Rukia would end up together in the future? They were just nakama that's it. Just more evidence that Aizen thought this was some sick, funny way of taunting him.
He didn't really take his inner Hollow's words to heart; he knew he just wanted to get a rise out of him because he hadn't been speaking. If it had been Zangetsu he would have believed him, but it wasn't. His Hollow couldn't be right, could he? He had to forget about her and his Hollow's words. He just needed to focus on kicking his Hollow's ass.
Tightening his grip on his katana, he yelled, "Getsuga Tensho!"
A large black wave tinged with crimson came out of his blade, heading straight for his Hollow, who had a bored expression on his face. Lifting his unarmed left arm, he deflected the attack, sighing.
"Ichigo, you're so determined to get straight to business aren't ya?" he commented, watching as Ichigo prepared to release another attack. "Ya think you just need to defeat me so that you'll regain control is that it?" his Hollow asked, laughing.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ichigo said, annoyed.
At least he's talking about fighting now.
"You can't defeat me, Ichigo. No matter how hard you try," his Hollow responded.
"Oh yeah, we'll see about that. I defeated you last time, and I'm going to make sure this time you stay defeated," Ichigo declared, eyes brimming with resolve.
"You didn't defeat me, you suppressed me," his inner Hollow corrected him as he dodged another Getsuga Tensho and shaking his head, he shifted his katana to his left hand and raised his right hand towards his face. He made a pulling a motion, and a mask appeared over his face. It was Ichigo's newest mask, except it was inverted. The four thick black stripes were white whereas the rest of the mask was black.
Ichigo stared at him surprised.
"I told you Ichigo that if you really wanted to control my power, you had to make sure you didn't die before I showed up again. And what did you do? Like the dumbass that you are, you actually died against batboy and I had to come back. You still have no clue how to use my power. You think just because you defeated me and can Hollowfy, you have control. Well, you don't. You still fear my power, so much that this world is reflecting your despair."
"You continue to let fear dominate you, to drive out your instincts, and I sure as hell won't have that," he declared, swinging his katana. "Getsuga Tensho."
A massive white wave unlike anything Ichigo had ever seen his Hollow use before surrounded by a red outline shot towards him. The orange haired Shinigami quickly donned his own mask and launched his own counterattack, which was easily swallowed by the more powerful white energy. Tensa Zangetsu immediately shattered. The front of his Shihakushō was shredded completely including the bandages that normally covered his stomach and his mask crumbled into pieces. A large burn marred his abdomen and blood was starting to spill out from various locations.
He found himself hanging suspended in midair, eyes closed, mouth gaping when his body began to descend into the dark depths of the ocean below. His mind was fogged. All thought gone.
"So, you told anyone that approached you that you dyed your hair orange?" Jūshirō asked, surprised to hear about the product known as hair dye from the Material World.
Masaki nodded. "It was either that or telling them my hair color changed when I learned my Shikai. It happened to one of my nakama."
"So, if you ever wanna go back to your black hair, you can use this hair dye thing," Shunsui teased his fellow taichō.
"I've grown used it to already, I see no point in changing it," the white haired taichō admitted, then returned his attention to the orange haired girl before him. "But even with that excuse…"
"How did I manage to avoid being noticed?" Masaki finished for him. "What helped was like I said earlier that the group leaders were the ones that had to give the reports to Komamura-taichō and Iba-fukutaichō, which distracted them from actually taking notice of the rest of the division. And today in the morning when we all gathered, I just kept trying to hide behind people that were taller or duck to avoid being seen in the crowd."
"But it must have helped that this is your division in the future, right?" Shunsui asked.
"I…" Masaki averted her gaze away from the taichō. "I recognized several faces. I even knew the seated officer in the group I joined. He's a Seventh Seat now…I always thought he had a bad attitude because of what happened in the war, but compared to the way he is now, it's subdued. But, the truth is it didn't matter if this was my division or not. What helped was just being with my group most of the time."
"I understand you had no intention of joining a group, but surely it must have helped that this is your division in the future, because although the people in this division wouldn't know you, you'd at least know their names," Jūshirō said.
"You'd be amazed what you can get people to believe or reveal about themselves, if you just let them talk," Masaki said.
"Wait a minute, you said you recognized several faces, are you trying to say that you don't know most of this division?" Shunsui observed, prompting Masaki to incline her head. "How is that possible? The top always changes, but the rest never changes that much, especially not in a 140 years," Shunsui commented, eyes gleaming with surprise.
He then glanced over at Jūshirō, whose eyes shined with concern at the implications of her statement.
"The Hollow attacks they get worst, don't they?" Jūshirō whispered.
Masaki remained staring at the ground.
"Why is Aizen doing this?" Jūshirō asked.
"Gomen nasai, but I think it's best that I don't say anything, you will see for yourself soon enough," she answered.
"I see," Shunsui murmured, sighing.
The tension lingered for a couple moments more before the brunette said, "Well, I have to say that you should have probably joined the Onmitsukidō. You did a good job of blending in."
"There's no way I could stand being a part of the Onmitsukidō—all the sneaking around, surprise attacks—I can barely stand doing it for over a day. I'm happy with my division," Masaki responded, lifting her head.
"I imagine you're tired from having to hide your true Reiryoku," Jūshirō said quietly, eyebrows knitted worriedly over his eyes.
"Not really… I've had far more exhausting experiences. What I was tired of was using really slow Shunpo. I would have been here sooner if I had tried using faster Shunpo—I only increased my speed occasionally since I didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. In the end, I guess it wouldn't have mattered. My badge was found."
"Is that why you lost your badge, because you used slow Shunpo?" Shunsui wondered.
"When I was on Hollow duty, I was careful to release only average Reiatsu, use average Shunpo and mostly use average Reiryoku in the attacks I used—I was treating it as a practice session like I used to do a long time ago," Masaki admitted."But that's not why I lost it. I was busy helping a teammate when a Hollow attacked me, but I actually wouldn't have lost it if I had worn it on the side that I normally do. When I was taking it off and putting it underneath my kosode, some Shinigami started inspecting the building I was in so I quickly put it on however and left. Later when people bumped into me when I was with the Seventh Division, I figured it was a good thing that it was on my other side of my arm, so that they didn't feel that I had it underneath my kosode. But, of course, during the fight it actually would have been better if it had been in its normal place."
A quiet silence followed afterwards.
"You have good control of your Reiryoku unlike Ichigo-kun," Shunsui noted.
"I can't believe he's so horrible at controlling his Reiryoku. I've heard the stories but to actually see it is just amazing. He's like a faucet that just doesn't turn off," Masaki said, a slight grin on her face.
"So, he does learn how to control it in the future?" Shunsui asked.
"For the most part, yes," she replied. "He only fully controls it when he wants to."
"Your parents in your time must be wondering where you are," Jūshirō observed.
"They probably haven't even noticed I've been gone," Masaki said quietly, lowering her gaze, "which is for the best."
"But you thought your father volunteered you in testing Urahara's device," Jūshirō pointed out, confused. "Wouldn't he notice?"
"I was wrong. He's busy after all and he knows I'm busy too so he won't try to see me," she said in a flat, definite voice surprising the two taichō.
There was a beat and meeting their gaze, she said in a determined voice, "But I have to get back before he and Okaa-san realize I'm missing. My taichō and my nakama are the ones that have probably noticed I've been gone. Maybe Urahara-san if he's noticed his necklace is missing. I just hope my taichō doesn't say anything to my parents," she said, scowling at the thought.
"I see. Well, hopefully everything will be sorted quickly so that you can return to your time as soon as possible," Jūshirō said.
Momo was chewing her lip worriedly, sitting beside Izuru, whose cobalt eyes reflected concern, in a waiting room on the second floor of the hospital. Behind them Shūhei was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, looking pensive.
"I hate this," Momo suddenly announced. "I want to know what's going on. This doesn't make any sense. You say you saw that a Seventh Division fukutaichō badge was found and brought to Komamura-taichō by one of his seated officers informing him of the intruder they've been searching for, only you guys find Iba-san and he has his badge and is fine except for the minor injuries he received from an Arrancar. Is Aizen-tai..", she bit her lip, "I mean A-Aizen, is he trying to trick us, but why would he do something like that? I mean, I just want to know what happened at the meeting, why Orihime-chan was so upset."
"I know, Hinamori-kun, we all want to know what's going, but we have to wait to see if the Gotei 13 will tell us," Izuru said, trying to placate his friend.
"I know," Momo said, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Maybe I should see if Hitsugaya-kun is out of the meeting. Maybe he'll tell me."
"Not unless he's been instructed not to tell us anything," Shūhei spoke, reminding her that they were always at the mercy of being on a need to know a basis.
"But why not?" Momo said.
"I don't know, this whole situation is strange," Shūhei said. "I can't figure it out. She admitted not belonging here, but she had a Zanpakutō and she didn't feel like an Arrancar. She didn't increase her Reiatsu, even though I think she was suppressing it. She told us she didn't want to fight, that she didn't do anything to Iba-san, and that she hadn't meant to attack the Shinigami that were trying to capture her. She said she had surrendered, but Kira and I didn't believe her. But it turns out Iba-san is fine, and that he had never even noticed her, which means she obviously tried to remain hidden. It seemed like she wanted us to arrest her, didn't it, Kira?"
"It did," Izuru agreed, thinking about the capture of the intruder.
"I thought when we found Iba-san that the only reason she didn't really try fighting us and wanted us to arrest her was because Aizen wanted her to eliminate the Gotei 13—that badge we saw had to have been an illusion," Shūhei admitted. "But that's just ridiculous. No matter how much her true Reiryoku is, there's no way she could do that. I mean the entire Gotei 13 was there including Kurosaki and his friends. It just doesn't make any sense why Aizen would do this, like you said Hinamori. Why would he even bother wasting his time doing this?"
Izuru frowned. "I don't know. Maybe…"
"He won't tell me anything," the familiar Hiroshima accent of their fellow fukutaichō filled the room, as Iba entered the room, frowning.
His Shihakushō was cut in various places, because of the Arrancar he'd fought, and a cut was visible on his chest, however, it was no longer bleeding thanks to Izuru's healing.
"Komamura-taichō didn't tell you anything, Iba-san?" Momo asked.
Iba shook his head, resulting in disappointment flitting across the Fifth Division fukutaichō's face. Izuru's frown deepened while Shūhei narrowed his eyes.
"Somethin's definitely goin' on, but he won't tell me what. I could tell he was glad to see me, even seemed a bit surprised for a moment. But when I tried askin' questions, he wouldn't answer anythin', and he said that he needed to go see the sōtaichō. I think I heard him mumble somethin' about she was tellin' the truth as he was leavin', but I have no damn clue what that's supposed to mean."
"He said she was telling the truth?" Izuru repeated.
"Pretty sure that's what he said," Iba grumbled.
"Well, she spoke the truth that she didn't hurt you, Iba-san," Shūhei stated.
"But what does that mean? Who is she? Did A-Aizen send her or does she not mean us any harm? Kira-kun and Hisagi-san, you both said she didn't want to fight you," Momo pointed out. "And, there doesn't seem to be any signs of a struggle, anything to indicate that a fight happened in this building, which means there's a chance she's still alive. Maybe something to do with that truth Komamura-taichō spoke of." Frowning, she added. "Never mind, that doesn't explain why Orihime-chan was upset… Unless it's not related."
"But if she's not with Aizen, then how come she has a Zanpakutō and…" Izuru asked.
"She has to be working with Aizen, the badge she had musta been an illusion," Iba interrupted the blonde. "There's no other way to explain that. They probably…" he stopped, hearing a woman's voice behind him.
"She claims she's from the future and they are currently holding her somewhere in the building to make sure she isn't working for Aizen," Rangiku stated.
"From the future?" Iba repeated, knitting his eyebrows and turning around to face the Tenth Division fukutaichō.
The blonde moved past him to stand in front of Momo and Izuru. She seemed slightly drained, a serious look on her cerulean gaze.
"The future?" Shūhei echoed, pulling away from the wall and straightening.
"What do you mean the future, Matsumoto-san?" Izuru questioned.
Upon seeing Momo's questioning look, which Rangiku knew concerned Orihime, she shot the Fifth Division fukutaichō a look that meant she didn't want to talk about this here.
Understanding dawned on her face and instead she blurted out, "What do you mean she's from the future? That can't be possible."
"Well, apparently she claims she used some device invented by Urahara Kisuke," Rangiku explained. "I guess it must be true if you're okay, Iba-san."
Eyes widened across the faces of her colleagues except for Iba's, whose eyebrows shot up over his sunglasses indicating his surprise.
"Then that badge we saw is hers, isn't it?" Shūhei said, comprehension lighting his features.
Rangiku nodded.
"She's the fukutaichō of the Seventh Division in the future?" Iba said, shocked.
"Yeah, that's what she said," the blonde woman answered, looking like she wanted to add something to it, but Izuru spoke first.
"If she's the fukutaichō then what about Iba-san?" Izuru murmured, looking worried.
Iba tensed. Rangiku and Shūhei froze, unsure what to say.
"Maybe, Iba-san is a taichō now," Momo suggested, trying to lighten the mood that Izuru created.
"That's probably it," Iba said, grinning. "I've finally become a taichō."
"But Komamura-taichō," Izuru said.
"He probably retired," Iba said dismissively, bringing his hand to his chin. "But what I don't understand is why would I pick a female as my fukutaichō? No offense Matsumoto and Hinamori, I would just prefer a man."
Suddenly, he dropped his hand away from his chin and said, "I know why. She must be hot."
"Iba-san," Izuru said, admonishing him.
"Kira and Hisagi, you've seen her, how does she look? Is she hot?"
"No, she's," Shūhei scratched the back of his head, searching for the right word, "different."
"Different?" Iba repeated.
Shūhei stared at Izuru, who had turned to look at him, urging him to help him describe her.
"She's unique," Izuru supplied, turning to look at Iba.
"Different? Unique? What the hell does that mean?"
"Well, it's like we told you earlier, Iba-san, she has orange hair and violet eyes," Izuru reminded him. "You just have to see her for yourself."
"She's not just the fukutaichō of the Seventh Division of the future, she's Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia's daughter," the blonde woman elaborated.
Once again, the eyes of her fellow fukutaichōs widened even bigger than before.
"I have Kurosaki Ichigo's daughter as my fukutaichō?" Iba exclaimed.
"I told you, Kira, remember? Nobody else has hair color like that except for Kurosaki. No wonder she was talking to him in the morning," Shūhei said.
"She's their daughter?" Momo gasped.
"I guess she must have gotten her eyes from Kuchiki Rukia, because Kurosaki doesn't have eyes like that," Izuru commented.
"Yeah, she does have violet eyes," Rangiku said, remembering noticing her eyes when they came to the real world together as part of the advanced team.
"So, this is the truth Komamura-taichō was probably speaking about," Iba said. "Wait a minute, how do you know all this, Matsumoto? Did Hitsugaya-taichō tell you all of this? I can't believe it; my taichō wouldn't tell me anything."
"Hitsugaya-taichō tell me this? As if," she laughed. "If he's not supposed to tell me anything, then he wouldn't budge no matter how much I would bug him to tell me. Orihime told me. She was there at the meeting."
"But what is Kurosaki's daughter doing here?" Shūhei wondered, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Uh, well, it appears to have been an accident," Rangiku replied.
Tōshiro was standing by the window in the room that Momo and Rangiku currently inhabited. The two females were nowhere in sight, but he knew there were somewhere in this building; he had sensed when they had returned. Apparently, they hadn't resumed their training after the search for the intruder had ended. He was partly disappointed in them, but he hadn't bothered searching for them, knowing that they would badger him with questions about what had occurred in the meeting.
For two hours, he had lounged about in a room in the upper floors, but then he decided to come down, willing to risk being barraged by questions. Surprisingly, however, they were not in their room, which he assumed was for the best. He resumed thinking about the revelation he had heard nearly three hours ago.
His mind kept replaying the events leading up to this point in time in the war, the girl's words, Kurosaki's reaction, his scarlet face. That was priceless. All seriousness aside, he had to admit that was hilarious. While he partly understood his disbelief, it was clear Ichigo's anger and denial were blinding him from realizing that this wasn't the work of Aizen. After thinking about it for so long, he was convinced that somehow Urahara Kisuke had developed a device that could travel across time and Kurosaki's daughter had used it. Her presence meant one thing—Aizen would be defeated.
Guessing by what she had said, he supposed she knew what occurred during the war and that piqued his interest. Having that knowledge would put them ahead of Aizen for once, or at least give them a clue on how to defeat him, because things before her arrival didn't seem particularly promising. They survived to continue fighting, but they were still in the dark about Aizen and he was still far more powerful— Kurosaki hadn't even hurt him.
He was tempted to question her if he could. He knew he was being impatient, that they would figure it out eventually, but the information they sought was within their reach at least for now.
"Hitsugaya-taichō," he heard the familiar voice of his fukutaichō.
"Hai, Masumoto," he said, turning to look at her.
"Did you hear Iba-san was found and he's fine?" she asked, walking towards him and stopping in front of him.
"I see," he said, his teal eyes flashing.
It has to be true then.
"Who knew? I had no idea he was considered missing," the blonde woman said, feigning ignorance. "Shūhei and Kira told me how they had seen his badge and thought he had been injured by that female intruder with orange hair and violet eyes, whom they captured. Odd combination don't you think, Taichō?"
He eyed her warily. "If you're looking for information, forget it."
"Taichō," she protested. "Can't you tell me who she was? What she wanted?"
"Matsumoto, don't start," Toshiro said annoyed. "The intruder has been dealt with and that's all you need to know."
Matsumoto dropped her act and became serious, "So, has it been confirmed that she's Ichigo's daughter?"
Toshiro's eyes widened for an instant and then narrowed, "How do you know this, Matsumoto?"
"Orihime told me," she admitted.
"Damn," he cursed.
Kurosaki's friends had left the meeting before hearing Yamamoto-sōtaichō's order not to tell anyone. In all honesty, the only liability was probably Inoue, whom he knew talked to his fukutaichō and Hinamori. The others had no one to tell except for Abarai.
Focusing his teal gaze on his fukutaichō's cerulean one, he demanded, "Did you tell anyone else?"
Rangiku sweat dropped. "Of, course not, Taichō. I know better than to tell people about something like this."
"Matsumoto, you're lying," he said knowingly, vein pulsing on his forehead. "Who did you tell?" he demanded, enunciating each word.
The blonde woman nervously fidgeted with her hands.
"Well, I might have told Shūhei, Kira, Hinamori, and Iba-san," she said in a rush.
"Damn it, Matsumoto, Inoue might have told you, but you should have kept your big mouth shut. You realize that they're going to tell the others, don't you? Fukutaichō weren't supposed to know about this. If it gets back to the sōtaichō that this information was leaked to them, I will make sure I get rid of every single bottle of sake you have in the office and pile you with paperwork once this war is over," the white haired taichō said, giving her an icy glare.
"That's awful, Taichō," Rangiku moaned. "But it's not like he's going to find out it was me anyway."
"Who else has a big mouth?" Tōshiro muttered.
"You're so mean, Taichō. It's not big, it's just the right size," she said, playfully.
He rolled his eyes.
"So, has it been confirmed?" she asked.
"Not officially," he said sighing, seeing no point in lying.
"But since Iba-san is okay, then you believe it don't you, Taichō?" she observed. "She's Ichigo's daughter and the fukutaichō of the Seventh Division in the future."
"It seems so. The sōtaichō thought maybe Aizen had created her, but I don't believe he did. It doesn't fit his usual pattern of manipulation and besides her story seemed genuine."
"And Orihime said she felt real when she healed her earlier because of some Hollow attack," Rangiku said quietly.
"Her senses can't be trusted just like ours, Matsumoto. She was most likely subjected under Aizen's hypnosis while she was with him," Tōshiro reminded her. "However, Kurosaki and his other friends haven't been, and they saw her. The sōtaichō did initially think she was created by the Hōgyoku, but I find it extremely unlikely that Aizen would use it for such a purpose."
"I thought so," Rangiku murmured, sadness briefly flickering in her eyes.
Noticing this, Toshiro lifted an eyebrow, and said, "You do realize what this means, Matsumoto? Aizen is going to be stopped."
"I know," she said.
"Then…" he started, then froze.
"What's wrong, Taichō?" Rangiku said alert, watching, as her taichō seemed to be listening or sensing something.
She knew he was being contacted by Kidō. It seemed they hadn't brought more Jigokuchō from the Soul Society.
"I have to go," he said.
"Why?" she asked.
"The results are in," he said, walking past her, heading towards the exit.
She sighed.
Poor Orihime.
Her heart went out to her. She had comforted her until she fell asleep. It looked like her instincts had been right about Ichigo and Rukia's future daughter… No, they had been right since she had first unloaded her feelings about her jealousy towards Rukia since that time when she used Orihime's bath.
Hearing the confirmation of what you hoped to not be true was never easy, but Rangiku had confidence she would get past this…. She was a strong girl. She would be there for her. It's too bad they didn't have sake, that would definitely help dull the pain, and truth be told she had been hankering for a drink. It'd been far too long since her last one.
Her taichō was right. The appearance of Ichigo's daughter proved Aizen would be defeated which was definitely good news. However, he was wrong about one thing. She could keep a secret if she really put her mind to it. She had told Momo when they were in private that Orihime had been crying because she was afraid that the Gotei 13 would kill Ichigo's daughter because of the possibility she could be working for Aizen; she didn't think it was her place to say the truth.
And, truth be told, Orihime had mumbled something after she had said she had wished the girl had never come, that she had wished she would be alright, that she would find her way back to her time. That's just the way Orihime was, she couldn't wish harm to anyone.
I should probably go check on her.
On the outside, his face radiated calm, indifference. However, inside him, a fury raged within his body, threatening to escape and erase his outward image of tranquility.
He hadn't wanted to believe that Kurosaki Masaki was telling the truth despite knowing it was highly unlikely Aizen would bother attempting such a deception. Despite hearing her story, sensing her Reiatsu and seeing those eyes of hers that resembled Rukia's…Hisana's.
Much to his displeasure, Unohana-taichō had confirmed it. This Kurosaki Masaki was not an Arrancar nor an illusion, but the flesh and blood of his sister and that disrespectful, loud mouthed substitute Shinigami; that insufferable brat had married his sister.
"What does your analysis say about this Ryoka, Unohana-taichō?" Yamamoto asked.
The taichō were gathered in their usual places on either side of him, and in front of him stood Masaki, her arms once again restrained by Kidō.
"After extensive analysis, I can confirm without a doubt, she is neither an illusion nor an Arrancar. The DNA results confirm that she is indeed the daughter of Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia," she replied, taking care to mention what had previously had gone unmentioned but that everyone was aware of.
"Are you sure, Unohana-taichō?" Byakuya asked, earning him stares from his colleagues.
"Of course, Kuchiki-taichō, are you doubting my abilities?" Unohana asked, staring directly at Byakuya.
"No," he said, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from her.
Afterwards, his mind hadn't been on the meeting. He half-heard Kurotsuchi's initial remarks about how he still wasn't finished analyzing the device she used and then his report about what he knew so far, Komamura's revelation that his fukutaichō was found, Yamamoto's approval for the girl's device to be fixed and his acceptance of her identity, and Unohana's report about the Soul Society. Hollow sightings had started to increase there as well.
His mind had been consumed by one desire — he wanted to find Kurosaki Ichigo, release his Bankai, and use his Senkei attack to pierce his body with katanas, especially in one particular area of his anatomy.
He didn't particularly care if he killed him or ruined his ability to have children. He supposed that would mean he would prevent his sister's daughter from being born seeing as they were in the 'past.'
He would find her a better husband, one of noble birth ... a union that would produce powerful children, but as he thought this, he knew it wasn't likely.
Kurosaki Masaki.
She was a fukutaichō, boasting Reiryoku just slightly over an average taichō. She was young; her powers were still growing. She definitely inherited that from him along with that bright orange hair, but unlike him, she actually had manners, like he had said earlier. She obviously learned that from Rukia. It was behavior befitting of a Kuchiki, yet she carried the Kurosaki name.
Why didn't Kurosaki Ichigo marry into the Kuchiki Clan? Everyone that married someone of the Kuchiki Clan always married into it; there were no exceptions. And, yet her presence proved that it had occurred. Trust that brat to run everything.
He was always going against the rules. His very existence was because his sister had broken the rules. Since he had first seen him and witnessed Rukia's reaction to his near death, he had attributed her attachment to him simply because he bore a resemblance to her late fukutaichō whom she had admired so much.
The substitute Shinigami's rescue of Rukia had been a surprise. He had fought with so much conviction against him, and he succeeded where he did not. While he admired him for it, he still found him a nuisance.
He always considered his sister's relationship with him as friends, that she merely felt a sense of gratitude for his rescue of her. At least, that's what he wanted to believe, what he kept telling himself, to quell the idea that perhaps his sister harbored feelings for the substitute Shinigami. He was not stupid, and he was not deaf either. He had heard some of the rumors circulated in the Soul Society after the departure of Ichigo and his friends, speculating that Ichigo and Rukia had a relationship, which is why he went through the trouble of rescuing her.
He had never paid any mind to them. Rumors were constantly being passed along in the Soul Society, hardly holding any truth to them.
Rukia during her stay in the Soul Society while she recovered didn't show any signs that she seemed sad to be away from that brat or that she missed him as far as he knew. The only emotion she elicited was surprise when she had learned that Ichigo had a Hollow side. He had felt the need to question her about it when the Research Bureau and Yamamoto-sōtaichō started talking about creation of the Arrancar and their arrival in Karakura; he had never forgotten the Hollow's appearance during their fight at Sōkyoku Hill. Apparently, she hadn't been aware of that Ichigo seemed to have a Hollow within him.
Perhaps, just maybe, he did see a glimmer of happiness at the prospect of returning to the Material World; he had thought it was happiness to finally being fit to be sent on missions.
However, with the appearance of their daughter from the future, he was beginning to wonder if she did have feelings for him or vice-versa. Were they currently together? Did they start a relationship during the time she stayed in the Material World before she was arrested? Had she just been disguising her feelings, because that's what Kuchikis did.
His lips tightened at the thought and he clenched his hands at his side. If that was the case, had that brat touched her? The very thought sent his blood boiling. He almost released Reiatsu.
Where is he? I'm going to kill him, he thought, as he made his way toward the first floor of the hospital.
He couldn't sense him in this wretched building, which contained only the Gotei 13; the Seventh Division was out in their posts.
"Nii-sama," he heard a voice behind him.
He turned.
His sister stared at him, surprised to see him. He hardly ventured downward. He loathed being here, and he refused to partake company with everyone else.
Rukia quickly lowered her gaze, bowing her head slightly.
"What are you doing here, Nii-sama?" she asked, sounding slightly nervous.
"Where is Kurosaki Ichigo?" he asked, looking at her coldly.
Rukia glanced up, eyes widening. "H-He isn't h-here. I think he's training."
"Training where?" he asked.
If he wants to train, I will indulge him.
"With the Visored in some warehouse," she replied.
His lips tightened and he said, "I see."
Her violet gaze stared at him expectantly, like she wanted to know something. She pursed his lips, opening them slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She immediately closed her mouth.
Noticing this, he stared at her.
Her hands dangled at her sides. Her fingers twitched nervously, and suddenly she balled her hands up and opened her mouth to speak. "Nii-sama…"
"She is who she says she is," he responded, before she could blurt out her question.
Her eyes were slightly wide, but overall they reflected a sense of acceptance, as though she had been expecting that answer.
He narrowed his eyes.
"I will not have you dishonoring the Kuchiki name," he stated coldly.
Her eyes grew bigger at that. "Nii-sama…"
"You will marry the boy once this war is over, and he will take on the Kuchiki name is that understood?" he announced, cold slate eyes boring down on her.
I don't care that she has his name. I will not make it easy for him to renounce the Kuchiki name.
Rukia gaped at him, too stunned to speak.
Does he think I'm with Ichigo? That's crazy. We're just nakama… As if I would wanna marry that idiot…. I mean, that probably that doesn't even happen until a long time from now.
"N-Nii-sama, I-Ichigo and I aren't together," she stammered, once she regained her voice. A blush formed on her cheeks. "He…I…. don't think that happens until later….He's…
"Do not lie to me, Rukia. I don't care if he's Human, I will kill him if I have to," he declared, staring at her intently.
"Nii-sama, it's the truth," Rukia said, violet orbs meeting his slate eyes.
After what seemed like an eternity, he said, "I see. Very well, I still want to talk to Kurosaki Ichigo when he returns."
Beneath his eyelids, Ichigo could see light. Slowly, he cracked open his right eye and bright light blinded him, forcing him to shut it once more.
Taking a deep breath, he opened his right eye, then his left. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his eyesight to the brightness bombarding him. Above him, a blue sky dotted with scattered white clouds greeted him. There was no trace of any rain cloud. No indication that it had ever rained. Confused, he groggily raised himself from the ground. Sitting up, he glanced down, noticing that he was wearing his regular Shihakushō and that he wasn't injured. However, Zangetsu was missing.
Didn't he just get attacked by his inner Hollow? Where was he? Surveying his surroundings, he realized this wasn't his inner world. A desolate, barren landscape stretched out before him.
Where am I? Wait a minute this place seems familiar.
He stood up and raised a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it, then ran his hand through his hair, finding it dry. His orange spikes protruded from his head in their usual fashion. He began to walk, eyes searching for any sign of his Hollow or anyone, when suddenly he froze, hearing something. It sounded like shouts.
He ran straight ahead coming to the end of a cliff. Below him in what appeared to a valley, was Urahara and…. Himself.
What the hell? What's Urahara-san doing here and why I'm there—no that imposter there?
"Urahara-san! Urahara-san!" he shouted, but the shopkeeper didn't seem to hear him. He was focused on chasing after his twin.
He grabbed him and threw him on the ground as he yelled, ducking and moving out of the way to avoid Urahara's attacks. His twin held in his right hand only a hilt with a light blue tassel at the end. Watching the scene before him, Ichigo couldn't help but find it embarrassing.
Hold on, this scene seems familiar isn't this when…
Suddenly his twin stopped running.
Urahara held out Benihime in front of him preparing to attack while his twin made a move as if to pull out his katana. The air around began to pulse with power, kicking up dust, as his twin yelled out "Zangetsu" as he turned around, and released an energy blast that Urahara barely managed to sidestep.
I learned Zangetsu's name.
The words Zangetsu told him resurfaced him in his mind.
"Cast off your fear. Go forward. Never stand still. Retreat and you will age. Hesitate and you will die."
The scene before him started to fade, reshaping into a dark alley, where he saw himself yet again, this time holding Zangetsu in front of him, Zaraki Kenpachi before him with blood dripping down his chest, katana in hand to attack him.
What the hell is this, a trip down memory lane?
Watching as he saw his twin close his eyes, bracing himself to fight the Eleventh Division taichō, he couldn't help but remember the words he knew Zangetsu was currently saying to him.
"Can you hear it Ichigo?... The screaming of his katana," Zangetsu asked, as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah."
"He cannot hear it. When two who do not trust each other fight together, they only damage each other's power. One who believes in nothing but his own power cannot understand that."
"Ichigo, can you trust me?"
"Of course. I'm putting all my power in your hands, use it how you wish, and give me strength."
The last thing Ichigo saw was his other self become engulfed by a blue aura before finding himself atop of Sōkyoku Hill. Pink katanas surrounded him — Byakuya's Senkei—he could see his memory self clothed in his Bankai garb, blood running down his face, clutching Tensa Zangetsu downward towards the ground. His twin's eyes were closing as Byakuya raised his Zanpakutō preparing to deliver what he thought was the final blow when he suddenly caught Byakuya's katana barehanded.
"I told you, didn't I? … That if you die, it'll make trouble for me, too," his inner Hollow said as he took over his body, a white mask forming over the left side of his face.
That's the first time he interfered.
He observed Byakuya's surprise, and his Hollow's subsequent attacks and remarks.
"You do suck after all, Ichigo!"
"You get wiped out from the Reiatsu of your own Bankai and every bone in your body's creakin'! Pathetic bastard! I'll show you the right way to use Bankai!" he declared, crushing Byakuya's katana.
The scene vanished before his eyes, replaced by the dome in Las Noches. Surprise shone in his eyes, watching as Orihime screamed his name, and then his memory self's body begin to transform.
I don't even remember this… All I remember was the desire to protect Inoue… and then that transformation happened and I couldn't even think anymore…. It was like I wasn't even there…Only he was….
All of a sudden, he found himself staring at Orihime's shocked face as she glanced up him. He was no longer viewing the scene as an observer; he was living it.
"Kurosaki," he heard Uryū call out.
And then Ulquiorra's voice.
"Impossible. You can't be alive."
"How have you taken on this form? Who are you?" Ulquiorra proceeded to ask him, standing several feet across from him.
Ichigo found that he couldn't answer; he couldn't move out of his own accord. He was merely watching the scene play out while he was in his Hollowfied body. He felt himself extend his hand. Tensa Zangetsu immediately flew out to him, and he easily plucked it from the air. He then swung it with so much force, creating a crater that sent Orihime flying; however, he was aware that Uryū saved her.
I'm reliving this… I'm finally seeing for myself what I did…what he did….
The sheer power and force of that Hollow form was undeniable. The ease at which he overpowered Ulquiorra was incredible. However, he was disgusted with the primal way he acted, the way he hurt Uryū, the way he wanted to carve up the Espada Cuarto.
He wanted power to save his nakama, not hurt them, and he definitely didn't want to win his battles like that. He never wanted to revert to that form again; he didn't want to be consumed by his Hollow. As much as he hated it, as much as he wanted to deny it, he knew his Hollow was a part of him…
"You didn't defeat me, you suppressed me."
What the hell am I supposed to do then? I can't let him control me, I won't let him.
As the moment he regained control of his body neared, he found himself again in Urahara's training ground, standing in the cliff where these memories started playing out.
Okay, now what?
"Ichigo, why do you fear me?"
"Zangetsu?" Ichigo asked, surprised to hear his Zanpakutō's spirit's voice.
Peering around, he searched in vain for the familiar form of the old man clothed in black, with the long flowing coat and long hair.
"Ichigo, why do you fear me?" Zangetsu asked once again.
Confused, Ichigo blurted out, "Fear you? I don't fear you, you're my Zanpakutō. Zangetsu, where are you?"
"You're lying, Ichigo, you're afraid of my power. You don't trust me," his Zanpakutō replied.
"That's not true," the orange haired teen denied, shaking his head, all the while trying to see where his spirit was.
"Then why is your inner world filled with rain, showing your despair? You have stopped walking forward, you have let fear overcome you, and you have stopped believing in me."
"What the hell are you talking about? That's not true! I haven't stopped believing in you…" he snapped, trailing off as he took in his Zanpakutō's words.
My Hollow said my inner world was reflecting my despair because I fear him. Why is Zangetsu saying I fear him too?
"I cannot help you if you fear me," Zangetsu stated.
"But I don't fear you," Ichigo repeated, furrowing his eyebrows.
I fear him… my Hollow… Ichigo thought, his stomach clenching with shame.
"Why do you fear me?" he heard Zangetsu ask once more, before he doubled over feeling intense pain shooting across his abdomen. He closed his eyes for an instant and upon reopening them, he blinked, seeing at first only darkness then bubbles.
I'm underwater, he thought with a start.
His first instinct was to try to move, but he felt like he had been rammed by a bus. He could feel his ribs burning, as if they were being crushed. A cough made his way up his throat, and he couldn't stop the blood gushing forth. He immediately shut his mouth and despite the protests of his aching body tried to move again, but his body wouldn't budge.
I need to get to the surface, he thought panicked, realizing that he seemed to be stuck in the building he had crashed into.
Resisting the urge to open his mouth to breathe, he set about placing his arms on either side of him on the edge of the smashed windows surrounding him. Ignoring the prickling of the broken glass on his fingers, he forced himself him up when he felt a hand grip his right shoulder and the tip of a blade pointed at his throat.
"So, Ichigo, you're still alive," his Hollow said, hovering right in front of his face, still wearing the mask, angry golden eyes peering at him."Why the hell do you fear me, my power?
Quick Glossary:
Katana- sword
Tou-san- Dad
Shikakushō- Ichigo's Bankai coat
Reiatsu- spiritual pressure
Reiryoku- spirit energy/ spiritual power
Okaa-san- mother
Kaa-san- mom
Nakama- comrade/friend
Shunpo- Flash Steps
Otou-san- father
Shihakushō- Shinigami uniform
Fukutaichō-lieutenant
Taichō- Captain
Sōtaichō- Head Captain/ Captain Commander
A/N: Just some things I wanted to clear up. Traditionally in the history of Japanese marriages there have been two practices: muko-iri which is when the groom marries into the bride's family and yome-iri which is when the bride marries into the groom's family. Looking at the fact that the Kuchiki family is one of the Four Great Noble families, and that during the non-canon Zanpakutō Unknown Tales Arc ( episodes 230-255 in case you haven't seen the subbed eps), Kuchiki Koga married Kuchiki Ginrei's daughter and took on the Kuchiki name, it seems to be the Kuchikis would be keen for everyone marrying into their family to take on their family name. Even non-canon supports this.
Also, I wrote Rukia found out about Ichigo's Hollow through Byakuya because that is something that has never been clarified in the series. She shows up during the Arrancar Arc having knowledge of Ichigos' inner Hollow but there was never an explanation, seeing as she never even saw him use his mask. I just figured it would be him since apart from Yoruichi and Hanatarō seeing his mask during the Soul Society Arc, nobody else saw that Ichigo showed characteristics of a Hollow (Urahara obviously knows as well). I suppose you could also say that the Research Bureau also informed the Gotei 13 since they detected the Yammy and Ulquiorra's arrival, so they probably noticed Ichigo's Hollowfied reiatsu as well. Komamura didn't seem surprised when Tōsen told him Ichigo could Hollowfy, which made me think that that was a possibility.
Don't be shy review!
