Disclosure of the Future

Renji gritted at his teeth, not understanding what Yhwach was saying, nor caring. What mattered to him, in that moment, was keeping Yhwach, who had inflicted so much damage and pain upon the Soul Society and his friends, from getting away. "Hold it, you bastard!" Renji fired Zabimaru forward, screaming towards the Sankt Zwinger barrier.

"You idiot! That won't work!"

Rukia turned her face towards the source of the voice, and Yhwach's strange words suddenly became clear. "Arisawa-San?!" Rukia said in shock.

The moment Zabimaru crossed the boundary of Sankt Zwinger, light and darkness blasted forth from the crosses and halo, tearing the segments within the boundary apart into its component reishi. Renji's eyes widened and he immediately pulled back the smoking end of Zabimaru. He could only watch helplessly as Yhwach strode through the barrier. Renji looked over at Rukia, only to find that she had seemingly vanished from his side.

"Arisawa-san, how are you even here?! What's going on?! And when did you become a Shinigami?!" Renji looked up to see Rukia running towards the strange Shinigami woman that was walking towards Rukia, hands raised as she told Rukia to calm down. I have never seen that woman before among the Gotei 13, Renji thought, and her reiatsu is way too strong to be even a regular Captain. Yet it feels like… The gears in Renji's head went into over-drive, trying to remember where he had seen the woman's face before.

His mind sped back-wards about two months, and then a year and a half ago. Arisawa…Tatsuki! Renji gave a sound of affirmation, and slapped his balled left hand into his open right hand. "Ah! You must be an aunt of Ichigo's friend, Arisawa Tatsuki!" Renji declared. "So many new relatives of people I know are popping up today!" He said, recalling Toshiro's older brother. "And all of them powerful Shinigami!"

Rukia gave him a pitying look. "Renji, that man was Captain Hitsugaya." Renji recoiled in shock. "I didn't actually think you'd buy what I said."

Tatsuki placed a hand to her hips. "And the only aunt that I have is Unagiya Ikumi." Ichigo turned white with shock. OH MY GOD! THOSE TWO ARE RELATED?! Tatsuki placed her free hand to her chest. "I am Arisawa Tatsuki. And I came from twenty-five years into the future."

Renji's jaw dropped in disbelief as the three revelations caused his mind to explode. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

Isshin looked at Renji with a deadpan face. "You are really gullible and thick-headed, you know that?" Isshin muttered.

"SH-SHUT THE HELL UP, CAPTAIN SHIBA!" Renji barked, then he paused a second. "Wait…Captain Shiba?!"

"Dad, don't stress Renji out any more than he already is," Ichigo spoke, the same look on his face as his father, "and I already got enough of a shock finding out the two scariest women in my life are relatives."

Renji helplessly pointed fingers between Ichigo and Isshin, completely at a loss for words with everything he was hearing at this point in time. Tatsuki beckoned Ichigo and Isshin over to where they were, and gestured for Okamiryuu to follow. Behind her, Rukia held a hand to her chin, as she pondered what Renji had revealed about Ichigo's father.

"Captain…Shiba…" Rukia's memories went back to the days shortly after she had to kill Shiba Kaien, after Metastacia, a creation of Aizen Sousuke, had possessed him. She did not know why the memory was so fuzzy, but she recalled a former Captain of the Gotei 13 talking to her, placing a hand on her shoulders.

"…It's not your fault, Rukia-chan…" The blurred figure spoke in a distorted. "…My nephew knew the risks when he became a Shinigami…"

But if Isshin really is a Shiba, then why…? When she looked up, her thoughts were distracted by finally noticing Inoue inside a Kido barrier. "Inoue-San!" Rukia ran over to her friend.

"Kuchiki-San…" Inoue said sadly, and looked away when she saw Ichigo's eyes following Rukia. "What happened? Why are you in Kurosaki-san's Kido barrier?" Rukia looked over her friend, making a mental note to herself to kick Urahara's ass for putting Inoue in such a ridiculous dress, and noticed that her Rikka were missing. "Inoue, what happened to your Rikka?"

"Yhwach did that," Tatsuki replied, and Rukia turned to face her. "Yhwach's "The Almighty" has the ability to "alter the future". He used it to destroy Inoue's Rikka, just as he used it to break Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu."

"Yhwach did what?" Rukia quickly looked over at the bloody and bruised Ichigo, and saw that Tensa Zangetsu had indeed been broken in two. She looked around, and saw the other broken piece sitting on the ground. "He has the power to alter the future?" Rukia was shocked that a power of such magnitude could even exist in the world.

Behind her, Inoue began to weep. "…Yes, and he saw that only I could fix Kurosaki-kun's Tensa Zangetsu. That's why he…"

"That is not entirely the truth," Tatsuki corrected Orihime. "I heard the details about it in my time after Yhwach was defeated. You couldn't override Yhwach's "The Almighty"; another Fullbring was needed to create a "new past" that could allow you to heal it."

Orihime simply looked at Tatsuki. "But…Tatsuki-Chan…If I can't help Kurosaki-Kun, then how…?"

"What was that you said?" Renji said, as he looked at Tatsuki. "You said that Ichigo defeated Yhwach, where you came from. If that is the case," he spoke, accusation in his voice, "then why are you here?"

"Do you want me to verify if what she is saying is truth?"

All eyes turned to look towards an opening that had suddenly formed in the floor of the Wahrwelt, and Tsukishima Shukuro stepped out of the doorway, followed by Ginjo Kugo. "Because, I might as well do something, while I am here. Urahara-san originally only gathered us up to help fix Ichigo's Bankai in case he was stupid enough to get it broken."

"He only gathered you to do that, you mean," Ginjo said pointedly, "we just tagged along because we wanted to repay our debt."

"But since Inoue-San is without her power," Tsukishima directed a chilling look at Orihime, "I suppose there isn't anything I can really do, here."

Tatsuki glared at Tsukishima, while Rukia looked over at Ichigo as he observed the state of his Zanpakuto. Ichigo…

"I don't have the time to explain everything," Tatsuki told Tsukishima, "and I especially don't need someone like you getting into my past. Again."

Tsukishima looked at Tatsuki in surprise. "Hmm, so someone told you about me."

Ichigo looked up from his Zanpakuto, the sadness in his eyes apparent. "Who do you think, you bastard?" Ichigo told Tsukishima.

Tsukishima gave Ichigo a withering smile. How curious. So he told this woman about me, but none of his Nakama. "Kurosaki-Kun…Do you know this person?" Inoue spoke.

Well, why not tell her myself? Tsukishima opened his mouth to speak. "And we don't have time for introductions," Tatsuki gave Tsukishima a warning look, "what we need right now is to find a way to break the Sankt Zwinger, and to wait for Uryu to join us."

"Uryu?" Ichigo asked, more wondering when Tatsuki started referring to Ishida on a first-name basis, then why they needed to wait for Uryu. "But Tatsuki," Ichigo insisted, "I know we need everyone we can to fight Yhwach, but with a power like "The Almighty", how can Ishida…?"

Tatsuki looked at Ichigo. "…Because Uryu is Yhwach's perfect counter."

Ginjo looked at Tatsuki suspiciously. "I do not understand all the stuff you were talking about earlier about how 'Ichigo beat Yhwach in your time' and all that," he admitted, "but now you are saying that Ishida is key to taking out someone like Yhwach? How do you suppose that?"

All eyes turned to Arisawa Tatsuki. Tatsuki spoke while Isshin healed Rukia and Renji's wounds. "Because when Yhwach spoke of the ways Ichigo's Bankai could be fixed, he did not see Uryu using "The Antithesis". And because, as I am sure you are aware, Ginjo," Tatsuki looked at Ginjo, "he is the one "impure Quincy" to survive Auswahlen, who was not the child of a Shinigami and a Quincy."

Ichigo looked over at Tatsuki, taken by surprise by something, he realized now, he should have recognized from the start. That's right. Neither I, Yuzu and Karin, nor Ishida could be called "pureblood" Quincy; I'm also a Shinigami, and have Hollow powers, and Ishida's mother was a Gemischt. But why would Tatsuki say that Ginjo would…

The realization struck Ichigo, and he looked over at Ginjo, specifically focusing on the Cross hanging from the necklace he wore. Wait. Ginjo was under "Book of the End" when he told me of the relationship between Shinigami Representatives and Fullbringers. Tsukishima could have used "Book of the End" to re-write Ginjo's knowledge about Fullbring, just as he completely re-wrote Ginjo's past…

He recalled Isshin's telling him about the past of his family, and Urahara's words about the balance of souls in living beings. "Humans are opposite of Hollows. Quincy are opposite of Shinigami."

Of course! Unless something about it being a Fullbring keeps it from happening, Ginjo could never have both Shinigami and Fullbring powers without "Soul Suicide" happening. The true opposite of a Fullbringer is not a Human with Shinigami powers…But a Quincy with Shinigami powers!

Ginjo's eyes narrowed. "Go on," he said nonchalantly.

"Uryu's "The Antithesis" is a power similar to "The Almighty"; both can manipulate "Causality" in different ways. "The Almighty" can cause events he can see in the future to occur in the present by "altering the future"; Uryu can choose two specified targets, and he can "reverse" any event that has happened between the two of them."

Renji and Rukia looked at Tatsuki in surprise. Ginjo simply raised an eyebrow, and looked over at Ichigo. "I see what you are getting at; Ichigo got trashed by Yhwach really bad, so you want Ishida to "reverse" all that damage back onto Yhwach."

"Pretty much," Tatsuki admitted, "all the injuries, even the broken Bankai and Hollow horn – all of which should give us the opening needed to take Yhwach out…" Assuming we get there in time.

"And you know all this because…?" Renji asked.

"Because I came here with the Uryu from my time," Tatsuki replied.

Renji tried to respond, but his response died in his throat. He decided it was futile to question anything at this point in time. He was thoroughly convinced that some demonic god of the ancient Soul Society could rise up and destroy everything, and he wouldn't even question where it came from.

"I see," Rukia said, her voice filled with hope, accepting Tatsuki's words without question. "If Uryu can stale-mate "The Almighty", then we can fight Yhwach on even ground."

"But we still have a problem, Rukia-chan" Isshin added. "Tatsuki-chan said Ichigo killed Yhwach in her time, but that Yhwach was able to come back to life. It won't simply be enough to kill him; we have to shut down "The Almighty" completely."

"I don't know the specifics…" Tatsuki turned to look at Rukia, "…But Rukia is apparently the means by which Urahara intended to completely kill Yhwach."

Rukia looked strangely at Tatsuki. "…Me? But what could I do that could keep Yhwach from using the "Almighty"?"

"I am not sure," Tatsuki repeated. "All I know is that some property of your Zanpakuto can over-ride Yhwach's ability."

"…Is it really possible?" Ichigo said, looking at Rukia in amazement. When Inoue saw the hope in Ichigo's eyes, she had to look away.

For the first time in their presence, Okamiryuu spoke. "Kurosaki Ichigo. You yourself are a being that most would consider "impossible"."

All eyes turned towards the Zanpakuto. "Urahara Kisuke was a shrewd man, and he knew many things about others that even they did not know about themselves. Every action he took had some hidden purpose to it. You are one who bears the properties of all things in his Soul…" Okamiryuu looked at Rukia, "…And you are the one he chose to hide the Hogyoku within. Happenstance did not bring you two together without reason. For two such people to come together from two entirely different worlds; for the sands of Fate to lead to such a meeting…"

"That is a most rare Destiny."

Ichigo and Rukia exchanged looks with each other, and they recalled their time together from their first meeting. The day when Ichigo was given Shinigami power by Rukia; their days of Hollow-hunting; the night when Rukia gave herself to save Ichigo from the blade of Kuchiki Byakuya; Ichigo storming the Soul Society with his Nakama to save Rukia from execution, and uncovering Aizen's plot.

Then Rukia came back to Karakura Town, to help Ichigo after the Arrancar appeared in Karakura Town; then Ichigo went to Hueco Mundo to save Inoue Orihime, and Rukia followed him, once again against the orders of the Soul Society, both risking their lives for a friend.

Then seventeen months apart from one another. Rukia recalled how, in secret, she spent part of those months waiting for Urahara to complete the blade that would be used to restore Ichigo's Shinigami power…A blade, she recalled, required her reiatsu to go in first and foremost, as her power was most compatible with Ichigo's own.

"Urahara Kisuke once told me," Tatsuki added, "that on the verge of death, in this very place, he entrusted everything to the both of you. Whatever it was…" Tatsuki gave them both a heart-felt smile, "…Urahara knew that it was something only you two together could bring about."

Renji and Isshin shared meaningful glances with one another, as they regarded two of the people who they had cared deeply for in their lives.

Footsteps and a familiar reiatsu came up from the stairway, and Uryu appeared from the steps, a silver arrowhead held in his hands. "Ah, you are finally here, Uryu!" Tatsuki said, her voice betraying her happiness at seeing the younger Uryu.

Ichigo gave Tatsuki an odd look, and then he turned to look at Uryu. A stifled laugh came from his father, and he looked at the bemused look in his father's eyes. Before Ichigo could ask, Isshin waved his hand in the air to keep the question to himself. Ichigo complied. He already had enough bombs dropped on him for one day.

"Arisawa-San?" Uryu looked confusedly at Tatsuki. "My father already told me about you, but I still can't quite believe it." He looked around and saw Inoue, and immediately noticed her Rikka were missing. "Inoue-san…Your Rikka…"

The sadness in Inoue's eyes panged Uryu's heart, and he balled his hands around the Still Silver arrow. I won't forgive you for hurting her like that, Yhwach. He stepped resolutely forward, and eyed the Sankt Zwinger. "This Kirchen Lied…" Uryu muttered to himself. "It is definitely a Quincy technique, but I am not familiar enough with the Kirchen Lied to dispel it. All I know is this: we'd need something immensely powerful to shatter the Zwinger, especially one like this."

"Or something subtle," Tsukishima suggested, "Allow me." He pulled a book-mark from his pocket, and activated his Fullbring – Book of the End. He walked towards the Sankt Zwinger, and made a single cutting motion along the ground. He looked to a piece of floor near his foot, smiled, and pressed down on the floor with a foot.

Bringer Light emanated from the spot, and streamed towards the ground in the parts where the Sankt Zwinger was set up, along the Sankt Zwinger's reishi construct, and they all disintegrated into particles. Without the rest of the barrier supporting it, the barrier in front of the Gate simply shattered.

Ichigo and Uryu looked wide-eyed at Tsukishima. "That is subtle?" They both yelled in unison.

"I picked up a trick and two when I was with that Shiba family," Tsukishima confessed. "They had a very interesting spell to allow themselves to turn any substance made of stone to sand. I figured that, if Shinigami Kido could do it, a Fullbringer could do it better. So, I used "Book of the End" on an area, and I 'practiced' making this spell until I perfected it. It took me quite a while, too. I call it – World Disintegration."

Ichigo looked at Tsukishima with annoyance. "I'll never get how your power works, Tsukishima. Frankly, I have too many bad memories with it to even want to get it."

"Tsukishima was always obsessed with the Xeelee Sequence," Ginjo offered, a wry grin on his face. "He was a big fan of those Photino bird things."

A vein appeared in Tsukishima's forehead. "Those were not the reason why I manifested my Fullbring the way I did, I assure you. Anyway," Tsukishima said to Tatsuki and Ichigo, "I assume this makes us even?"

"Yes." Ichigo said.

"No." Tatsuki said.

Ichigo looked at Tatsuki. "Tatsuki," Ichigo told her, "Tsukishima already helped us get past the Sankt Zwinger. They don't need to help us any more than they want to."

Tatsuki looked between Ichigo and Ginjo. "I said "no" because Urahara-san wanted me to say something to Ginjo, in case things went this way." Tatsuki turned to Ginjo. "Ginjo, if you and Tsukishima do not come with us right now…There is a very likely chance that Sousuke will die."

Ichigo looked at Tatsuki, confused. "Tatsuki, what do Aizen and Ginjo have in…" He looked towards Ginjo, and went silent when he saw the expression on Ginjo's face.

It was one of shock, which slowly turned to determination. "So," Tatsuki said to Ginjo, "are you in all the way?"

Ginjo touched his hand to the Cross on his necklace, and pulled out Cross of Scaffold.

"Yes."