Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter 12
Kisuke stared at Shinji, waiting for an answer, prepared to wait as long as it took.
"Why do you suddenly care what happens to the kid? You've ignored him since he lost his powers."
"I have honoured Isshin's request to stay away. If his inner hollow is somehow returning, he has no power to fight it with."
"Ichigo is fine, he's enjoying home schooling, in fact he'll be graduating early. We fight occasionally to keep his skills sharp. He reads manga, watches movies, plays the occasional video game. He's a normal teenager." Shinji was going for denial.
Kisuke shook his head. "Then why have you not been recalled?"
"You'd have to ask Yamamoto that, I honestly thought I'd be ordered back within two days," at least he could be truthful with that. "Best guess? He wants someone watching the kid in case his powers come back."
"And have they?"
"No," Shinji knew such a bold lie was risking with Kisuke, he was a genius and while Shinji was no slouch and had centuries experience on him, Kisuke could often think circles around him. "Just butt out, you had the chance to stand by him and you didn't, all because of Isshin. That man is an overgrown child, not a Father." Shinji stood. "Thanks for the tea."
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"Would anyone really complain if Shiro ate Geta-boshi?" Ichigo groaned and Shinji chuckled.
"He'd probably give you indigestion," Harry answered as he walked in and Ichigo shrugged, relieved Harry was back. He understood Harry had other responsibilities, he was Death after all, but he felt better when the older man was around. "So, what did he do?" Harry stretched out, relaxing and Ichigo forced himself to sit as well, Shinji stayed in the chair where he was slouched.
"Sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong," Ichigo growled, arms crossed.
"Kisuke called me in for a chat. Apparently one of Ichigo's old friends saw his eyes flash due to Shiro."
"Ah. Oops, I'll fix that. Would you prefer an illusion? Or I could set up a Fidelius where no one would see you as anything other than human Ichigo unless you told them the truth?"
Ichigo went over what he knew of both options. "An illusion tied to the cuff?" he asked, and Harry nodded, so Ichigo bared the cuff and Harry quickly altered the magics in it. Ichigo relaxed, relieved that it wouldn't happen again, but he also knew he needed to stay closer to home on certain days, it was safer.
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Shinji ducked and then stumbled back as a blow slammed into his ribs. He was fighting in his gigai and Ichigo was in his body which was definitely getting stronger and faster. He had yet to manage Shunpo without tearing muscles, but he wasn't far off from it. Ichigo's growth rate really was scary but he was still alive and therefore far more changeable than Shinji or any other Shinigami or Hollow. He brought Sakanade up and lunged in to try and cut him only for both of them to freeze as a familiar blade materialised in Ichigo's hands, blocking his.
"Zangetsu," Ichigo whispered in awe and happiness. Yes, he had access to the blade in his inner world and had even spared with Shiro but for the blade to materialise when he was in his body… the blade was heavier than he remembered but that could be because his physical muscles weren't quite as strong as his spiritual ones, yet. He was getting there.
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Ichigo glanced at the paper and then the building before sighing and walking away. So, maybe he wasn't ready to find a job. He'd sent in applications to several universities, not just in Japan. The goblins were managing what little money he'd had, and that money had grown substantially since being deposited, knowing Harry ensured excellent service, despite the fact he'd once successfully broken in and stolen from them. Hands in his pockets he wandered towards his sisters' school, deciding to pick them up instead of job hunting. He still wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life. He didn't have to be a substitute Shinigami anymore, even with his powers back, the world was his oyster, or so Harry had said, he just had to figure it out.
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Ichigo smiled as he materialised sideways on a building, seeing Shiro and then the Old Man standing on his flagpole. He glanced at Shiro who nodded, and they walked over to confront him. Shiro had been a lot calmer and willing to talk since returning but then Ichigo had realised that he had been telling the truth in their battle at the Visored's warehouse, he was Zangetsu. "So…Quincy?" Ichigo asked and the Old Man stepped down so that he no longer towered over them.
"Yes."
"Why the lies?"
"I allowed you to believe I was Zangetsu to try and protect you. I did not wish for you to be a Shinigami."
Ichigo sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Too late Old Man," he pointed at Shiro. "But you've been using Quincy skills to give me the blade, haven't you? Because I never had an Asauchi to imprint Zangetsu on." Having Shinji explain about how a Shinigami's Zanpakutō was formed had been a shock.
"You are correct, you have never truly wielded Zangetsu."
"So, Mugetsu?"
"A complicated mesh of our powers, it is possible that you could go beyond that level without losing us in time and with training." Old Man Zangetsu admitted. "It will take a deeper level of trust and acceptance than we previously had."
"No more secrets and we'll get there," Ichigo swore.
"No more secrets!" Shiro grinned and the Old Man nodded.
Ichigo grinned and then woke up to find Shinji asleep in the chair beside his bed. He pushed himself up and found for the first time, he actually felt good after a treatment. He heard a nose and looked over to find Harry watching from his desk chair, smiling.
"How do you feel?"
Ichigo couldn't help grinning as Shinji started awake. "Whole."
TBC…
This felt like where the chapter should end. The next chapter will be longer, promise.
