Here is the next one. The project the school had us do is finally over and I just finished writing this the other day. I hope you enjoy
Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach
Chapter 12 - Secrets
-Precipice World-
The battle against Aizen went swimmingly. He cut down the captains and the visored without so much as taking a scratch on him. When the head captain showed up, he had a plan in place to defeat him, Wonderweiss. Kisuke, Yoruichi and to Ichigo's surprise, his father, also arrived to fight but Aizen had already begun to evolve and just beat them fairly easily while Gin was playing around with Ichigo
Regaining conciousness, Isshin implored a hopeless Ichigo that they have to go to the real karakura town and stop the so called madman who wanted to destroy it. Ichigo soon enough agreed and as they were running through the dangai, Isshin noticed something.
"Wait, Ichigo, stop." Isshin called out to Ichigo who was running in front of him.
"What? I thought we were in a hurry?" Ichigo stopped and asked
"Something's wrong. There's no sign of the cleaner." Isshin answered. "From the traces of spiritual pressure, I'd say Aizen did something. The bastard probably destroyed it when he came here."
"So is it bad if the cleaner's not here?" Ichigo asked, slightly worried
"If we leave things like this it's not good, but right now, it's good for us." Isshin said which surprised Ichigo. "As its name suggests, the precipice world is on the edge. It's a place isolated temporally and spatially from both the world of the living and the soul society. The cleaner exists to limit those who have entered from staying too long. But right now it's not here, so I'll be able to teach you in this place."
"Teach me? Teach me what?" Ichigo asked
Isshin hesitated for a few seconds, knowing what would happen if Ichigo did learn it. "You must learn the Final Getsuga Tensho." he said, finally
"The Final Getsuga Tensho?" Ichigo asked in confusion. "Why do it here, of all places?"
"The precipice world is a disconnected space and it is surrounded by multiple layers of temporal torrents or to put it in simple terms, time flows faster in here than it does outside. The difference is unbelievable, by the time one year passes in our world, two thousand years would have gone by in here. Besides being the pathway to the world of the living, this place is also used to exile criminals. If the restrictive current ensnares you, escape is impossible and death is imminenet. If the cleaner comes in contact with you, you'll be hurled from the present and the rapid flow of time will kill you." Isshin explained. "But, since the cleaner's not here, it's the perfect opportunity to gain time. Since time here in the precipice world flows faster than outside, if you train for 2000 hours here, only one hour would have gone by outside. Sealing off the cleaner is impossible but there is a way to temporarily stop the restrictive current." Isshin said and grabbed four sticks with ropes from his robe. He then threw two of the sticks towards the restrictive current on each side with ropes tying around his wrists. "This process is called realm fixation. Usually it is done by having multiple low ranking soul reapers put together their spirit energy to temporarily stop the restrictive current, but I can do that by myself. I'll hold out the restrictive current until my spirit energy is used up. By my estimate that should give you about 2000 hours in here, just a little short of three months. Use that time to get an answer." he finished
"Answer?" Ichigo once again asked in confusion
"That's right. Find out what works. Get your sword Zangetsu to tell you what the Final Getsuga Tensho is for you." Isshin replied
"Alright but give me an idea on what the final getsuga tensho is." Ichigo said
Isshin sighed. He didn't want to have to reveal it to his son this way but it appeared Ichigo is adamant on knowing what it is and they were running out of time. "It is a technique that allows you to gain massive amounts of power, enough to surpass even the head captain's. However, once this technique is used, you will lose all of your soul reaper powers after a few hours. I would do this myself but I was never able to convince my zanpakuto, Engetsu, to tell me what it is and he doesn't want me to know how to use it. I'm sure you can guess the reason why."
"Yeah. I understand your zanpakuto's motivations. Zangetsu would give me the fight of my life if I want to know this one but if this is the only way, then I'll do it." He said and got into a seating position on the ground with his sword placed across his lap. For a few moments, Isshin thought Ichigo was not doing it right. Ichigo's breathing was still faster than it should be when someone was in their inner world. He was about to punch Ichigo when he noticed that his breathing had finally calmed down, indicating that Ichigo had succeeded
-Ichigo's Inner World-
Ichigo had made it. First thing he noticed was that the entire place was submerged in water. He looked around and noticed that some parts of his inner world had become that of a small town instead of the huge skyscrapers. Only a few skyscrapers remained and they were at the center of his inner world. He landed on the side of one of them and wondered what happened. 'Ichigo, do you know how I hate the rain, and it rains in the world too? If you're heart is troubled, the skies will become cloudy, if you grieve, it will rain endlessly.' he suddenly remembered Zangetsu's words after he was brought here during his fight with Kenpachi
"So I guess it rained here and this is what happened. When I lost hope of defeating Aizen ." he muttered sadly. To his surprise however, someone replied from behind him
"That's right. The rain that continued to fall has subsided and nearly everything has submerged itself to this ocean. And this all happened because you hope and stopped moving forward." the man said. "Interesting. When you first came into this ocean, I would have thought your first reaction would be to run up to the surface. It pleases me to know that you are aware you can breath in here." he continued when after getting Ichigo's attention
Ichigo turned around, expecting to see Zangetsu but he was surprised that he looked different than usual. "Zangetsu? Is that you?"
Instead of answering, Zangetsu just charged and locked swords with Ichigo. "You're wrong. What is the full name of your bankai?" he asked while pushing Ichigo back. "I am Tensa Zangetsu, understand?" he said and slashed his sword to the right. Ichigo got a slight wound on his left arm from the attack
Outside Ichigo's body, spirit energy came out from the same spot in which Zangetsu cut him in his inner world. This led Isshin to conclude that Ichigo had begun fighting Zangetsu. "You've made it. Be careful this time. He will not go easy on you." he said to himself, worried about his son
Back with Ichigo
Ichigo dodge another attack from Zangetsu. Since they met again, Zangetsu has been trying to attack him but it looked like he was not putting any effort into it. "Hold on Old Man." Ichigo said as he blocked Zangetsu's next strike. "I don't mean you're old, but just hear me out. I did not come here to start a fight with you. I just wanna talk to you about something."
"Oh you do? About the Final Getsuga Tensho? You're father already told you what it is did he not? What makes you think I would teach it to you?" Zangetsu asked
"Well I..." Ichigo began to mutter before he felt his body pierced. He looked down and saw Zangetsu had thrust his hand right through his chest. He was surprised at how Zangetsu managed to move right in front of him without him even noticing
"So you want the Final Getsuga Tensho do you? Alright, only if you prove yourself worthy of its secrets." Zangetsu said before pulling his hand out of Ichigo's chest, ripping out a white substance and causing Ichigo to yell in pain
After Zangetsu finished ripping the substance out of Ichigo, the strawberry was then forced to move back and kneel from pain. When he finally recovered, he looked at Zangetsu and saw someone very familiar. It was none other than his inner hollow but with a new look. "What's up? It's been a long time, Ichigo. What's with that look of yours? Don't act like you don't know me." White greeted him while lifting his mask
"What? You again?" Ichigo muttered in disbelief. "But how? I watched you disappear after I defeated you."
White put his mask back on before giving Ichigo an answer. "So did you forget? I warned you, the only way you could really control me, was to stay alive, at least until the next time I showed up."
Ichigo was surprised at White's response as he completely forgot about it. He glared at both Zangetsu and White for a minute before replying. "Damn, and all this time I thought I destroyed you for good."
"Oh really? Well too bad for you." White mocked
"So what's up with the new look? Looks ridiculous on you." Ichigo asked
To his surprise however. It wasn't White who answered him. "That's right. This is the first time seeing this form isn't it? This is exactly how you looked when Ulquiorra Cifer nearly killed you." Zangetsu answered
This shocked Ichigo to his core. Now he finally understood everything. Ulquiorra had killed him, then his hollow took over and must have forced everyone to lie about how the battle ended. 'Why is it he is so distrustful of the soul society.' Ichigo wondered. It didn't take much for him to realize why his hollow would do it. Pushing those thoughts aside, he decided to focus on the matter at hand. "So what is it you want me to do here? Am I supposed to fight this again and defeat him?"
"No." Zangetsu simply replied
"Ichigo, do you remember what I promised you?" White asked which caused Ichigo's eyes to narrow in suspicion. "I told you, We'd tell you everything when you are ready and this mess is over." he reminded him
"I remember. So are you saying that I am ready?" Ichigo asked suspiciously
"That's right. Now only one more task remains. Finish it and we will keep our promise, Ichigo." Zangetsu answered
Ichigo was now more determined than ever to get this over with. Mostly because his town and sisters were in real danger but part of it came from his own curiousity. 'Just what are these two getting at?' he wondered. "So what do I do to get the final getsuga tensho?"
"Wanna join in on the fun?" White asked Zangetsu
"I suppose. It has finally arrived anyway." Zangetsu calmly replied
"Don't ignore me!" Ichigo yelled
"Sorry about that Ichigo. Before we begin I just want to make you aware. I am not Zangetsu." the cloaked man said
"I am." White finished the sentence
This simple fact, shook Ichigo's very being. Surprisingly, Ichigo kept his cool and ask the two. "So if he is Zangetsu, then who are you?" gesturing to the man in the black and red cloak
Both of them were surprised at this. They expected Ichigo to panic at this revelation but somehow he isn't doing that. "Curious. I thought you would panic or ask so many questions when we told you that." the hollow said with his usual grin gone
"You were the one that forced me to be like this. Yes I do feel somewhat betrayed by this revelation, but the both of you have helped through a lot since we met. So I'm guessing the both of you have your reasons for doing so, and I'm also gonna guess this has something to do with the soul society. Also, when I saw my father as a soul reaper, it made me realize one thing. I know next to nothing about myself and you did say you would tell me once this was all over." Ichigo calmly responded although both Zangetsu and White could see the hurt in his eyes but it was also filled with hope that all will be revealed
There was a pause between the three as each of them began to process the revelations. After a long pause, Ichigo finally spoke. "So, if you're not Zangetsu, then who are you?"
"I am a part of your soul Ichigo but I am a manifestation of a different part of your power." the cloaked man replied
"Different power? What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, confused
"Enough of this. Ichigo, we promise you that we will tell you everything about us. Now, are you ready for this?" White broke up the questioning between the other too
Ichigo and Zangetsu were shocked at the hollow's outburst as they were caught up in the discussion. "He's right. Are prepared to do this, Ichigo?" Zangetsu asked
"I thought the Final Getsuga Tensho would cost me my powers, so why are you so willing to give it to me?" Ichigo asked
"We are not willing to give it to you Ichigo, rather..." Zangetsu trailed off
"You must prove yourself worthy of its secrets. If you succeed, then we will give it to you, if not then everyone you care about will be killed by Aizen. It is that simple. We will also keep our word. Remember, I said when this Aizen mess is over." White finished Zangetsu's sentence. He then looked at Zangetsu and asked. "Shall we?"
Zangetsu spared a glance at Ichigo for a moment before giving his answer. "Yes. Let us do it." he replied before looking at Ichigo. "Ichigo, I will ask you one last time, are you prepared to do this?"
"I am." Ichigo simply replied while readying himself for anything
White and Zangetsu then looked at each other and nodded, before blue and red energy began to appear on the outlines of their body. After a few seconds, both of their bodies disintegrated into particles and moving to the area between the two of them. When all the particles disappeared, a different being appeared, having the physical appearance of Zangetsu with the colorations of White as well as both of his horns with his left eye being that of White's and its right being Zangetsu's. "This, is our true form Ichigo. We are the same. The two of us are your power. Here we come Ichigo." the merged spirit yelled at the last sentence and charged at Ichigo
Outside Ichigo's body
Isshin was growing concerned. It had been a while since Ichigo went in and so far, only one sign of the battle has appeared. This can only mean one thing, Zangetsu has finished Ichigo off very quickly. To his relief however, more of Ichigo's spirit energy began to leak out, indicating that it was not yet over. Soon enough, he was starting to get to his knees as his spirit energy was being slowly dwindling away
-Fake Karakura, a few minutes ago-
As everyone was busy fighting against Aizen, two men were watching the battle from afar. Nobody seemed to have noticed, Aizen included
"So which one of those is our target?" one of them spoke
"The one with the orange hair." the other replied
"I see. What is that guy's name anyway?"
"Ichigo Kurosaki. He's a student at Karakura High School."
"A high school student you say? Impressive. He already has enough power to rival most of those captains." the first guy spoke and the two observed Aizen cut down the captains. "So what are we gonna do? From what I can tell he seems to be closely affiliated with the soul society?"
"We wait. Right now, getting involved would not work to our advantage. It would be best to wait until things have settled down. We also have to inform the others about him."
"What makes you think he will turn against his allies?"
"Because if he knew what his so called allies have been doing, he is not gonna appreciate it."
"I sense some powerful spiritual pressure heading towards the battlefield. I suggest we leave. They might notice us since they're not joining the battle yet."
"Your right. Let's go." and with that the two men left the scene
Again, kindly review. As for the next chapters, I can't really say if I can release the next one on the same time I usually release the chapters. There's only a couple months left in school and they might give us a crap ton of projects.