Wow it has been some time, eh?

I think it's been 2 years since I even felt compelled to touch this story, laziness is a both a blessing and a curse I tell you. Even after I upload this I don't know if I'll continuously update, so pardon me for leaving you all hanging for long periods of time.

ON TO THE STORY!

LINE BREAK

A shadow flashes across Ichigo and he finds himself standing on top of the skyscraper he was thrown into. Ichigo feels a hand on his shoulder and turns his head to look at the cloaked man standing behind him.

"Zangetsu..." He whispers.

"Hello Ichigo. I've missed you.."

LINE BREAK

-Kisuke's Underground Training Area - Lab Section-

Nel strode next to Kisuke, a purpose in both their footsteps. Even in Kisuke's 'secret' underground training field they could hear the battle against S.S. waging above the shop. It was massive if the tremors rocking the ground on occasion were anything to go by.

"This way, Nel-chan." Kisuke instructs as he takes a sharp turn down a hallway built into a cliff hidden behind a boulder.

Walking through the surprisingly well lit passage they entered a lab.

"Tell me, do you know why Ichigo's Hollow is acting up now of all times?" He asked, a knowing glint in his eyes as he waltzed up to a machine and started fiddling with it.

"I have an idea, but no definite proof." She answered swiftly.

"Lets hear it then."

"It has to do with my presence, the Hollow was feeding off my residual Reiatsu, correct?" She answered.

"Bingo~! The closer you got to our Strawberry, the more energy the Hollow took in, the real kicker though has to do with that tattoo you've been rubbing this entire time." He stated as his eyes scanned a screen.

Nel looked down in surprise to the marker of her bond with Ichigo. "Our Hollow Bond?" She questioned, as it twinged again.

"Indeed, when you made that bond, a very nice performance by the way~" He giggled in a rather perverse manner, while Nel gave him her best glare, "opened a connection between your very souls, allowing the Hollow to essentially gorge himself on your souls Reiryoku, and unlike Reiatsu, just a little bit was enough to recharge himself and weaken Ichigo. It was also due to this that you didn't feel the drain. Reiryoku is much more potent than Reiatsu so he only needed a tiny bit."

"So.. this is my fault.."

"Technically, yes," Hearing this Nel felt even worse, "but don't feel too down about it Nel-chan~," a smirk making its way onto his face, "You gave us all we needed to get Berry Boy back in action."

"How!?" She exclaimed, hope filling her eyes and voice.

"Well you see~", He began as he pushed a button on the machine he was slaving over. "The gang's been awfully worried about him you know, but after the Hollow made it's presence known again, me and my oh-so-brilliant mind began to plot! You know how Ichigo defeated Aizen, yeah?"

"Yes, he used a sacrificial technique to weaken Aizen to the point when your seal was able to activate and contain him." She answered, not truly understanding where the eccentric shopkeeper was going with his plan.

"Correct~!" He announced. "Ichigo sacrificed the very power of his soul to defeat Aizen, leaving it barren and empty."

"And?"

"Annnd~, this left his soul a blank slate, with, if I'm correct, the Hollow and Zangetsu going into a dormant state, like a coma." He said as his fingers danced across a keyboard. "This left his soul very receptive to foreign energies, AKA, you!"

"So what you're saying is that my presence caused his soul to shape into a more Hollow-like form?" She asked as her eyes watched the screen he was working on.

"Yes!" He exclaimed, "Truth be told I've never seen anything like it.. But you're also forgetting one crucial detail~.."

Nel was silent as she contemplated what she had missed. Kisuke said her souls presence was changing Ichigo's, but she couldn't for the life of her think of what she was missing.

"I'll give you a hint~" He mused as he hit another button and a picture popped up on the screen.

She gasped at the picture as it clicked in her head what she was missing. The Hogyoku! It broke the barriers between Shinigami and Hollows! Her soul was primarily Hollow, but she still had Shinigami in it as well!

"I see you understand," He drawled slightly, "Aizen made your soul a mix of Hollow and Shinigami when he used the Hogyoku to make you into an Arrancar. This allowed Ichigo's soul to take in a small amount of Shinigami Reiryoku, meaning that Zangetsu is back as well!"

He was excited, and slightly amused, Azien had unknowingly helped Ichigo reclaim the powers of his soul, and the irony was not lost upon him.

"And this brings us to our next subject," He stated as he pressed one last button and turned to the machine next to him. The top of the square, box-like machine parted, revealing a square indent big enough for them to place a hand in. "Now, step out of your Gigai and if you'll come here, we can finish this once and for all."

Nel ejected her soul from the faux body and walked up to Kisuke, clad once more in her Espada attire.

"If you'd place your hand in the hole, we can get started."

Doing as she was told she felt an immediate pull on her Reiatsu as her hand made contact with the bottom of the indent.

"Now I've already calculated how much of your Reiatsu we'll need so just sit back and let the machine do the work~."

"What's this for?" She asked, eyes locked on the machine that was draining her.

"That would be telling~"

Nel just 'hmphed' in annoyance.

A few silent minutes passed as they stood there, waiting for the strange machine to be done. With a low beep the machine began to close and Nel withdrew her hand. Kisuke immediately went back to the computer he had been working over previously. With a few quick buttons being pushed, he stepped back and let the tech do the rest.

Nels eyes were immediately drawn back to the box-like machine as it opened once more, widening as an object slowly slide up and out of it.

Kisuke smirked as he drew his ever famous fan to this mouth. "Now grab hold of it and lets get this party really started."

LINE BREAK

-Ichigo's Soulscape-

"Zangetsu... What the hell is going on, Old Man!" Ichigo practically yelled, he was, understandably, frustrated. First Nel shows up out of the blue, not that he was complaining, next his Hollow was trying to consume him, and now Old-Man Zangetsu shows up out of no-where. Wasn't his soul supposed to be barren of his powers!?

"Ichigo... You are frustrated, I know, and you every right to be, but now is not the time to be yelling, it is time for you to listen. I have much to tell." Zangetsu said as he tried to calm his partner.

"So you're back too, Old Man?" the Hollow asked as he appeared behind them in the buzz of a Sonido.

"Yes, I managed to collect enough Reiryoku from Nelliel, I can manifest myself properly now."

"Wait, what!?"

"Yeah we both managed to take some juice form your mate, so what?"

"So what!? You both stole from her!"

"Calm yourself Ichigo. We did not take much, just enough to kickstart your Reiryoku so we could manifest," Zangetsu spoke softly, "Although, he did take more than he should have."

Ichigo turned to glare at the Hollow, who shrugged it off.

"So what, I needed enough so I could kick his ass!" the Hollow hollered.

"Be glad you did no lasting damage to Nelliel's soul."

"Hmph."

"So could one of you explain to me what's going on?" Ichigo asked rather heatedly.

"We hate the rain, Ichigo.. I have said this many times," Zangetsu answered after a brief pause, "Even in our catatonic states we could sense it, the sadness, it gripped your soul in a vice. We both saw our chances to do what we thought right, and we took a hold of it."

"So what was that all about earlier with him?" Ichigo pointed over his shoulder at the Hollow who leered at him.

"That's what I call Anger Management, Kingy."

"So all that stuff about Nel and my friends!? What the fuck was that!?"

"I was trying to piss you off enough to fight me, instead of just standing around talking like a pussy." The Hollow answered nonchalantly.

Ichigo just glared at him.

"Enough! We have much to discuss."

LINE BREAK

-Kisuke's Underground Training Area - Ichigo's Containment Area-

Hachigen was panting heavily as he strained to keep up all his kido barriers. With containing Ichigo to protecting the Shop and the city around it, he had to call on his Hollow Mask quite some time ago.

"Hachi!" Kisuke called as he appeared a little ways away from the pink haired Vizored, "Drop the barrier on Berry Boy! We're ready to proceed."

"Alright, but be careful, he was thrashing around earlier," Hachigen warned, "He stopped a while ago and has been standing there but it could be a ploy." He finished as his gaze moved over Ichigo's still body.

"No worries, I believe Zangetsu has shown his hand finally, we just gotta give Ichigo's soul the boost it needs to survive this." Kisuke explained briefly, "That means you're up Nel-chan!"

In the buzz of a Sonido, Nel appeared next to Kisuke and strode up to Ichigo's body as Hachi dropped the barrier.

"Please be okay, my precious Ichigo-kun, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry this happened to you." She stated as she raised her right arm, her left hand being on Gamuza's hilt just in case. In her right hand was a ghostly looking blade comprised of the Visored's, Kisuke's, Yourichi's, and her own Reiatsu.

"I'll see you soon, Itysgo," She murmured to herself as she thrust the blade into his heart, and was promptly blown back by the explosion of Reiatsu.

LINE BREAK

-Ichigo's Soulscape-

It was dead silent inside of Ichigo's Soulscape as he processed what Zangetsu.. no, what his Quincy half had just told him.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND, ARE YOU MY ENEMY? MY ALLY!? WAS EVERYTHING YOU TOLD ME A LIE!?

When the answer he was waiting for didn't come Ichigo exploded once more. The buildings in his Soulscape were suddenly cut apart and slowly sank into the endless depths.

"ANSWER!"

"I am neither your enemy.. nor your ally. However.. My words and my heart never lied to you.. except when I told you my name." He began as Ichigo stared intently at the spirit he once thought was his Zanpakuto. ".. Ichigo, I think you must have noticed it so long ago.. When I taught you how to use your Zanpakuto.. I always used the powers of a Hollow."

"When you couldn't use the Zanpakuto's power, when your life was in danger, the one who saved you.."

"WASN'T ME.. IT WAS ALWAYS A HOLLOW." His Quincy manifestion declared as Ichigo's eyes widened.

"I never wanted you to become a Shinigami.. That's why I suppressed your growing potential.. And always tried to be the core of your power."

"Why..."

"Why..?" the Yhwash look-alike asked. "Is it strange for me to keep you away from fights or danger?" He continued to ask. "If you bacame a Shinigami.. you would unavoidably be involved in fights and battle. You would be hurt, you would suffer."

"AND ONE DAY, I WOULD DEFINITLY HAVE TO KILL YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS."

He threw out his arm and a white sword made of Reiatsu appeared beneath his outstretched hand. Ichigo's eyes hardened and he clenched his fist in return.

"I mustn't let you become a Shinigami once more... Because if you become one, I will have to kill you."

The soulscape fell into silence once more.

"Or so I thought..."

"However, you eventually did become a Shinigami. You had a chance.. trained hard.. and despite getting hurt and suffering... you chose that path." He stated as he gently held the Reaitsu sword off to his side. "Whenever I saw you like that my heart would waver. Eventually instead of stopping you from being a Shinigami.. my heart began to help you along your chosen path."

He slowly lifted the sword.

"And now.. Like this...I was happy to step back." The sword came down and he rested hid arm on its end. "Ichigo, you became strong, and I was able to watch you grow..."

He began to fade away..

"I couldn't be happier."

Ichigo stared in slight horror as the being he trusted the most in his Shinigami career was almost gone.

"...I am satisfied." He let go of the blade.

"Yes there were no lies, in your words or his." Ichigo's words echoed across the submerged landscape. "You saved me, you stopped my blood using your own, you lent me the Quincy power to help when I was weak.. Zangetsu."

The Yhwash look-alike stopped fading as his one remaining eye watch Ichigo fall toward the blade.

"I don't care who you are, and you might say its not true.. but both you.. and him.. I'M SURE YOU'RE BOTH ZANGETSU!"

...

"Are you okay with that... Zangetsu?"

He grabbed the hilt of the blade...

A foreign Reiatsu entered explosivly from outside his soulscape as the blade made a flash of light.

LINE BREAK

-Kisuke's Underground Training Area-

Nels eyes shot open as they drank in the sight before her.

Standing there tall and proud was Ichigo. On the left side of his head a white, bone-like horn jutted out a good six inches, and he had red markings trailing down his face to his chest, where they angled into the Hollow Hole that was now present in the middle. His garments were the same as his bankai wear, the only difference was they were white with a black trim on the edges.

Lastly he was holding two blades. Both massive in size, being just as big, if not bigger than the previous cleaver that was Zangetsu. One was black with a white edge and cloth like the old Zangetsu, and one was white with a black edge and cloth. Both blades were slightly hollowed out.

'Is this my/his true potential?' Both Ichigo and Nel thought at the same time.

"Ichigo!" Nel shouted in happiness as she bound over to him and tackled him, both of his Zanpakuto were dropped as Nel collided with him at high speeds and started to 'accidentally' smother him in her cleavage as she panicked over every detail of him.

"Nel! I'm fine, I promise," He said for the umpteenth time as she fauned over every new detail trying to make sure her mate was truly okay.

"I know... I was just worried.."

He smiled at her loving tone.

"Strawberry! Good to see you alive and not turning into a Hollow!" Kisuke greeted as he walked over to the two lovers.

"Hat'N Clogs" Ichigo greeted him with a nod, scowling slightly at the nickname, "Hey there Hachi."

"Hello." The plump rosette man greeted in return.

"Well~ I would love to run some tests in you and see whats new and all.. Buuutttt~ S.S is quite literally knocking on our door, I wouldn't be very polite to keep them waiting much longer." The blone shopkeep coyly stated.

"Since when do you care about being polite?" Ichigo asked/admonished.

"Oh, Berry Boy, your words wound my soul~"

"Yeah, whatever you say, drama queen..."

LINE BREAK

-Outside Kisuke's Shop-

Both sides had been worn out. Some combatants were still going, AKA, Yourichi had made a game of tag out of her fight with Sui-Feng while most of the combatants were watching while they 'fought'. With the latter at her limit and the former still going stong they all stopped as the felt a familiar Reiatsu spike.

Moments later, the kido barrier protecting the Shop dissipeared and Kisuke and Hachi appeared at the door way.

"Kisuke," Shinji called out, "Is that Strawberry-baka alright?"

"Well~ why don't you ask him yourself?" Kisuke said as his irritating fan had been brought up to hide the smirk on his face at the groups reaction.

Ichigo appeared next to him with Nel at his side.

It was dead silent as the 'combatants' took in Ichigo's now look.

"WHY THE HELL DO YOU LOOK MORE LIKE A HOLLOW!?" Hiyori practically screamed as she took off her sandels and whipped them both and Ichigo and Kisuke, nailing them both in the face. Sui-Feng smirked slightly at seeing two of the people she slightly detested being punished. "WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING OUR ASSES OFF OUT HERE TO BUY HIM TIME TO BE RETURNED TO NORMAL!"

"Yeah... fighting's not exactly a word I would use," Shunsui muttered to himself, half of their combatants had been notified by Yourichi what was going down, and they had all agreed to take it easy as to buy time for Ichigo.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone turned to look at the sky as Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood in front of a closing Senkaimon.

"Ichigo Kurosaki... You have much to explain."

And DONE. Wow all this in one night. Its a bit over 3k long but still. Not sure when I'll update next but I promise it won't be almost 2 years next time

As for the part I took out of the manga, that chapter really spoke to me, Ichigo would never throw away Quincy Zangetsu, even if he never truly spoke in truths. I loved it and I can't wait till they animate it so I can watch those feels from Quincy Zangetsu and Ichigo.

Anyways til next time my lovely readers.

Ja ne.