Author's Note & Character Overview

Roughly a year after starting this fanfic, it is finally over. My relationship with Bleach is a very interesting one. It honestly does not meet my expectations of what makes a good and engaging anime or manga. But it is also the series that brought me to love the mediums. And in many ways I feel a particular resonance with Ichigo and his character arc. I really loved the series, in the end, but I paradoxically loathed how it came to an end.

So I impossed my own ending.

I have gotten a lot of severe criticism for it. But I'll take what I can get! And I am thankful for those who enjoyed what they read. If you liked it, then I succeeded. If you were rubbed the wrong way by what I wrote, then I succeeded. Someone invading another story and almost violently changing its narrative trajectory and ending is abrasive. To say the very least!

In any case, I have written the story that I wanted to write. I had planned it to be much longer, but the core essence is all there. For the most part, I trimmed back because I am busy working on numerous original novels. And the Tscheapwhetzar, whether you liked or hated him, is going to be a part of all that. If you ever come across the Legend of the Ten Lords or Bleeding Steam and Steel (tentative names right now) then you will have a slight foot-up on the bigger picture, should you read them.

Ichigo and his friends will return in various ways in later tales. I have already set up what comes next. It is burned into my mind. But that is a long way off for me, and some things might change. I especially want to see what comes about with Burn the Witch. I really hope that it gets serialized and we will see more of Kubo's world! If so, that means I will probably return to add some more to this tale's future in regards to how Squad 14 deals with the Western Branch of the Soul Society. But in the meantime, I have to focus on my own worlds and stories.

Thanks for reading through this story! Whether you stumbled across it, or something else I wrote eventually led you here, I hope you will stick around for the rest of the adventure. There is something very, very big afoot. I have a massive story in the works, and when I am done, it will be unlike anything the fantasy and sci-fi genres have ever seen!

The final part of this fanfic is a quick look at some of the characters and what happened to them in the fifteen-year interlude. It will help fill in some gaps and further set up what comes in the distant future.

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Ichigo - He graduated 24th in his class, with Keigo making fun of him the whole way. There was little resistance to his plans from within the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo. During his three months in the world of the Hollows, he worked to establish Harribel's control over Las Noches and brought gangs of higher level Hollows under his wife's banner. Or eliminated them.

Ichigo was present for his first son's birth. He and Rukia named him Kaien. Squad 14 was organized with himself, Chad, Uryu, and Orihime as the first members of the squad. It was at this same time that Ichigo really experimented with the ribbon, with help from Kisuke. He met Senna, whom they had all forgotten as part of the Valley of Screams disappearing. They discovered that the ribbon would allow them to recall people they had lost to death with whom they were close. With enough power poured into the ribbon, they could pull back one person per year from death, if they so chose. And Senna wanted to return.

The ribbon was used by others to speak with their friends who had perished, but none could be brought from beyond death. Mayuri was explicit , though, that Kisuke was not allowed to continue his Nemu experiments.

Ichigo charged his friend with journeying around the globe and finding Fullbringers and other special humans. They are supposed to give them a choice to travel to Japan and set up a base of operations with other Fullbringers who join Squad 14.

After much arguing with Rukia over the matter, Ichigo left to enter the Realms and find the Tscheapwhetzar and learn more about the War of Abominations. He took part in a number of important battles over those fifteen years, learning more about the situation. Though he tried to not get too involved. He only spent two years total abroad in the Realms.

During his travels through the Realms and patrolling the Dangai, Neliel joined Squad 14 as a member. At Harribel's behest, to keep Ichigo safe, she was made a consort to Ichigo. Needless to say, he was super embarrassed and against the whole thing. It was a small power play to try and bind Ichigo further to Hueco Mundo. After that, Rukia joined Ichigo more frequently on his adventures.

Despite all of this, Ichigo did his best to be around for his kids. He came to understand his own dad better, but he never jumped any of them in their sleep. After getting to know some of the different people in the Realms better, Ichigo came to like the Scadrial fashion, which led to his uniform getting fashioned into a style of Mistcoat.

Karin and Yuzu - After the attack against them by Kenryu and Enryu, their own powers awoke more than before. Karin decided she should try and use hers more and eventually developed something akin to real Soul reaper abilities. She was granted an autaschi and eventually joined Squad 14.

Yuzu never joined the squad, but she established a bistro as part of the Kurosaki Clinic. It became not only a restaurant and medical center for regular humans, but a base of operations for Squad 14 in the World of the Living. She travels to the Soul Society often to spend time with her nieces and nephews, who all love her dearly.

Keigo and Mitsuru - After graduating from school, they took over Kisuke's candy shop and helped him on the side of the World of the Living to develop instruments for the Fullbringers. They also ran the training area for Fullbringers and Soul Reapers from Squad 14 who set themselves up there while touring in the World of the Living.

Kisuke Urahara - He was reinstated into the 13 Court Guard Squads, and took up the mantle of Squad 12's Captain. Against Mayuri's wishes, he continued the mad scientist's Nemu experiments. He cloned her and made her his daughter. He worked very hard to help all the Visords integrate themselves back into the Gotei. They have al taken up their old posts, or have taken new ones.

He and Yoruichi finally got married, and by the time this fanfics concludes, they just learned that they are expecting.

Kisuke has been working really hard on finding a way of containing and stabilizing Ichigo's immense powers. Because of his mixed heritage and his Schrift A, Ichigo's powers have not yet been brought under control. However, Kisuke discovered how to make the the world withstand Ichigo's presence for a little longer with special bonds and seals.

Yoruichi - reinstated as the Captain of Squad 2. Now married to Kisuke and is pregnant. If she gives birth to a daughter, she will name her Soi-Feng.

Chad - He is Ichigo's lieutenant. When he isn't working, he helps train boxers. His trademark is training his students peace first and respect for their strength.

Uryu and Orihime - They travel the world exclusively, helping fulfill Squad 14's mandate. They have been told not to interfere too much with the western hemisphere. Still, Orihime finds ways to fulfill her dreams, with uryu's help. Word is that they have slowly gotten closer to each other.

Tatsuki - She went on to win multiple national titles in martial arts and combat. She helps out Squad 14 with domestic affairs.

Hanatarou - He was the second person to come back through the ribbon. He is Squad 14's chief medic.

Kenpachi Zaraki - Finally got his rematch with Ichigo. They destroyed an entire mountain and demolished most of the surrounding countryside. He went three times with Ichigo into the Realms.

To some degree or another, when I return to Bleach in the future, we'll get to see what their lives are all like in world that has long moved on from both the canon material and from this story. Until then!