Chapter 13

Several Days later…
Las Noches: Ichigo's & Orihime's room

Ichigo sat on the bed, Orihime brushing her hair behind him. The boy felt lost and confused about so many things that he felt like his head was going to explode. So many questions ran through his head that every time he managed to come up with an answer for one a hundred more questions would be waiting right behind it.

'This isn't right! I can't just sit by while Aizen destroys Karakura Town and the Soul Society!

But are you really going to protect the very people who want you dead? The people who refused to save you and your mother?

But I can't let Aizen destroy Karakura Town!

Aizen promised to spare your sisters and friends, did he not?

He can't be trusted! Hell, he even told me that to his face!

But you can never defeat him, Ichigo. You've trained with him for weeks and you've barely been able to scratch the man. Admit it, Ichigo: Even if you stand up to him he'll crush you just like last time.

I…I…I don't know what to do…What am I supposed to do?!'

Ichigo buried his face in his hands as he thought of his friends. Tatsuki, Chizuru, Keigo, Mizuro, Don what's-his-name, Ryo, Mahana, Michiru. Could he really face them again after agreeing to spare their lives while their families and their home are wiped off the map? And if it came down to the wire, could he ever really look Rukia and Renji in the eye ever again? 'I…I still consider them my friends. I don't want to think of having to fight them, especially Rukia….'

A hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his tormenting doldrums and he saw Orihime sitting next to him with a look of concern on her face. "Ichigo, are you still worried?"

A sigh slipped from Ichigo's lips as he nodded. "Yeah. Aizen is about to mount his attack on Karakura Town and I still have no idea what I'm gonna do." Ichigo turned to Orihime and his face descended with despair. "What about you, Orihime?"

Taking hold of his hand, Orihime did her best to smile at her friend. "Ichigo…I can't really do much. Aizen promised me he'd spare Tatsuki but…I still don't trust him. All I can do is hope for the best but…" she let go of Ichigo's hand to cup his face. "Whatever you decide, I promise you won't be alone."

A tiny smile was all that Orihime's words got her but it was enough. "Thanks, Orihime."

Seeing the pain in Ichigo's eyes made Orihime want to cry herself. "Ichigo…" she whispered as she leaned close…. 'Please…I'll do anything to take away your pain….'

"Well now, is this a bad time?" said a voice which interrupted the impending kiss between the two orange heads. Ichigo and Orihime gasped to see Gin standing in the doorway. "Oh my! Young love is so sweet!" He chuckled as he covered his eyes. "If you'd like, I can just cover my eyes and pretend not to see anything while you two continue."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "I hate you, Gin. I hate you so much…."

"Awww! My little nephew's so mean to me!" Gin said, feigning disappointment. "Anyway, Ichigo, your daddy wants you and Orihime in the throne room to see us all off! Today's the big day!"

Ichigo's heart stopped. "You mean-"

"Yep! Cap'n Aizen's going to destroy Karakura Town."

Several Minutes Later….
Aizen's Throne Room

"Welcome back, Ichigo. Orihime," Aizen said, greeting his guests. He, Tosen and the Espadas were all gathered at the top of the stairs. "I wanted to bring you here to see us off."

Ichigo crossed his arms. "I'm surprised you're not forcing us to come with you."

Smiling down at his son, Aizen calmly walked down the steps until they were at eye-level. "No, Ichigo. I can see that you're conflicted and I doubt you'd have the heart to fight your former friends. You will remain here with Orihime in Hueco Mundo while we mount our attack. When we have finished crushing the Soul Reapers we will proceed to create the Oken."

"But wait!" Orihime insisted. "If you fight in Karakura Town, you'll wipe it off the map, Oken or no Oken!"

"A fair point. However, Kisuke Urahara thought of that idea as well which is why he took the liberty of swapping out Karakura Town with a fake. Now we can fight to our heart's content and the real Karakura Town will remain untouched. When we're finished with the Soul Reapers we will enter the Soul Society and create the Oken there. Once that's finished, we'll ascend to the Royal Realm where I will kill the Soul King and take his place. When everything is all said and done, I will come back for you. Until then, wait here," the man ordered.

"Oh, and to ensure that you don't have any…heroic inclinations, once we leave, Hueco Mundo will be sealed off." Ichigo looked up at his father with worried eyes. "Do not fear, Ichigo. I will keep my promise and spare your friends and family."

'But that's not it...' Ichigo thought as his father patted his shoulder before ascending up the stairs. Orihime took hold of Ichigo's hand and squeezed it as the massive Garganta opened, Aizen walking out into the World of the Living, followed by his subordinates. Before the portal closed, Aizen turned around and had one last look at his son, the look in his eyes much confusing Ichigo. It was as if he was almost…daring Ichigo to come after him.

But then the portal closed, dividing father and son, leaving Ichigo trapped in Hueco Mundo….

Fifteen Minutes Later….
Ichigo and Orihime's room

Ichigo and Orihime sat on the bed in silence, the minutes taunting them as they ticked by. "I hope Halibel and the others are alright…" Orihime muttered. "I mean…I shouldn't want them to win but I don't want them to get hurt…."

Her orange-haired friend nodded. "I know how you feel." He looked up and his thoughts turned to the other Espada he befriended. Stark, Lilynette, Grimmjow. Even Ulquiorra had warmed up to him in the short time he'd been with them. But still…"This isn't right!"

Orihime watched with great sadness as Ichigo buried his head in his hands, his mind and heart too conflicted. "Ichigo…."

"What am I supposed to do?! Should I go and help Aizen? Should I go and stop him? I…I'm so confused!" Ichigo's conflicted heart almost drove him to tears when he remembered something. Or rather, remembered someone. "Maybe he'll be able to tell me what to do."

Ichigo stood up and grabbed Zangetsu off the wall, concentrating his spirit energy into his blade. "Ban…Kai!" Orihime braced herself as Ichigo's body was wrapped in black/red spirit energy, the torrent of power like a maelstrom in the room. When Ichigo emerged his white shihakusho that Aizen had given him was gone, replaced by his black Bankai jacket.

As Ichigo sat on the floor Orihime stared at him confused. "Ichigo, why are you just sitting there?"

"Aizen showed me this a while ago. It's called Jinzen. It allows me to travel into my inner world to speak with Zangetsu." Placing the sword on his lap, Ichigo cleared his mind and emptied himself of his thoughts. Orihime's voice faded as he retreated into his inner world….

Only to be replaced by the sound of booming thunder from a raging thunderstorm. Ichigo looked around and saw to his dismay dark clouds drowning his inner world. "What is this?"

"It is because your heart is so conflicted that it has affected your inner world. Instead of looking forward, you've stopped completely." Ichigo turned and saw Zangetsu standing behind him, only this time the man was much younger. He understood from what Aizen said that this was Zangetsu in his Bankai form: Tensa Zangetsu.

"I don't know what to do!" Ichigo shouted over the wind and the rain. "Who's right in this? Zangetsu, I don't know what to do! Who do I go help? My father? Rukia and Renji? I…" Ichigo hung his head in defeat as the questions buried his resolve. "Please, tell me what to do. I can't forgive them for causing Mom to die but…."

"Your mother was killed protecting you from Grand Fisher. Her death was not their fault."

"But Zangetsu! If they'd come, Mom might still be alive! If she was still here then…then…."

"But you can't know what might be. Even if the Soul Reapers came to your aid, your mother might've perished regardless." Zangetsu frowned when he saw Ichigo slump and knew that his words were falling on ears that were drowned out by his own wavering heart. "Ichigo. I will simply ask you this: What do YOU want?"

"What…I want?"

"You speak of the past, Ichigo. You need to focus on the present. Nothing you do can ever bring your mother back; not even your father. Your home is under siege. It is time you picked a side."

Ichigo shook his head. "It's no use. I don't want to fight Rukia and Renji…and I don't stand a chance against Aizen. It's hopeless. My father's gonna destroy Karakura Town and kill everyone. Even if he keeps his promise…I can't look Tatsuki and the others in the eye ever again…." Ichigo crumpled to his knees and stared at the ground, at his muddled reflection in the rained-on window.

Zangetsu sighed. This was getting him nowhere. Looking up at the sky, he knew he had no choice but to do something he'd been trying to avoid for so long. "Ichigo. There is something I can do."

Ichigo's eyes cracked open. "Really?"

"Yes. I can do this once and only once and it will only be temporary. It is something I've been hiding for six long years. I did not know when the time was right to show you this, but it seems to me that that day is today. Make it count."

As Ichigo looked up he saw Zangetsu's cloak began to rise, as if he'd been hiding something deep within the shadows of his core. As Zangetsu whipped his cloak back, Ichigo's brown eyes widened up in complete shock, his heart feeling like it would stop at any moment. Suddenly the rain wasn't the only reason that his eyes were wet as a figure stood next to Zangetsu, smiling warmly at the stunned Ichigo.

And just like that, the rain stopped.

"…Mom?"

To be continued