Well the world has gone a bit sideways but so far I am OK, I hope you all enjoy the chapter and thank you to Aroneden for the proofread. I know there will be mistakes but you should see it before he proofreads it and then I read it out-loud to myself.

But beyond that I hope this brings a bit of fun to your life's right now.

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Things moved fairly quickly for a bit, Serafall and her peerage surrounding Sona, Rias being swept away by her brother. The sudden fact that they were alive and all made it through had sapped the strength from them all. Sona was so close to empty as it was, he was shocked she was still awake.

They had all been moved to the school gym, one of the last standing structures in the whole town. The Maou told them to rest as they had people taking care of the town. If the hundreds of people coming through portals opened by the Maou themselves were any indication, they did.

Ichigo saw to it that all of his people were comfortable before letting out a breath and walking to a very particular group of non devils. Said Devils had given them a wide berth, and the people who had come to aid him seemed content to do the same. He did not fight the smile on his face as they noticed him. "Thank you all." He said simply.

Most nodded, Yourichi just grinned, thankfully she was now dressed ….unhelpfully it was a Kuoh School Uniform. She must have just grabbed and it was too short and somehow more sexy than seeing her butt-naked. So he looked away from her amused smirk. "I, um...guess there are some questions?"

Ishida gave him a look of friendly scorn. "More than a little." He glared at Kisuke."Since the adults in the room seem to be keeping the kids from knowing things."

"I took an oath of secrecy and all that," The shopkeeper waved a dismissive hand, "Something I don't think they have done to you."

Ichigo nodded and took a seat. "First, I want you all to know it's good to see you again. And, well, a lot has happened to me since I have been gone." Kisuke tilted his head in acknowledgement, though Ichigo half wondered if he really did not know. "Well, it will be easier to answer questions so have at it."

Ishida let out a long breath. "What happened to you and who or what are they?" His hand waving around them.

That one at least he knew was coming. "Well, I acted like myself and ended up fighting something...quite far beyond my ability." He pointed to Issei who had sat himself down and fallen asleep. It was going to be fun to see his reaction when he woke up to see Momo and Ruruka using his shoulders as pillows. "That kid," He said the words fondly, "Got himself involved with a Fallen Angel." He held up a finger to stop Ishida from asking what those were and used that time to go over all the basics that he himself had been told. The history of Devils, Angels, God, and what he knew of why they, as a group, had never interacted with them. "They can't sense you, any of you, and its the same with you…" He paused. "Well, actually, Uryu, can you?"

The Quincy took a moment to look at all the Devils around them then closed his eyes and focused. "No."

"Ok, then no one in our pantheon can."

"Pantheon?" Kisuke asked, amused.

Realizing he was slipping into using terminology he replied. "Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy, I don't know why." He glanced at the Shopkeeper who had a good poker face as usual. "So when the Raynare...the fallen angel decided to kill Issei, I intervened, and ended up killing her, though she put her fist through my lung."

His dad flinched at that. "How did you manage that?" Yourichi asked, with interest. "From what you have said, they are far tougher than a human without some supernatural advantage." Without saying a word he held up his hands and mimed shooting a bow. White light gathered to him and he had the satisfaction of seeing Ishida's eyes go wide as door knobs.

"Turns out Mom was a Quincy." he said. He was sure, all the adults knew about that and felt no reason to lie to Ishida or Chad. "Managed to hit her twice before I started really dying and that was when Rias and Sona saved me." He pointed out the two of them and noted his Dad's eyes sharpened slightly. "They turned me into one of them, or partially into one of them."

"That is something that should not be possible...however," Kisuke mused, "If there was anyone in the world it would work for among Shinigami, it would be you."

Ichigo nodded. "It did work." He spent an effort of will to manifest his wings and almost did a spit take when they appeared as massive angelic models with glowing blue pinions. "Uhhh," He said, "That's new." He did remember Koneko and Tsubasa talking about it, but wings were just not something he manifested all that much. He willed it away and decided from a different way of show and tell, holding up his hand and watching as a small white circle began to float above it. "When they did that to me it reignited my soul and my powers along with it."

"And you did not tell us about this, why?" His Dad said.

"It's not really the kind of thing to tell you over the phone, I was going to tell you next week when there was summer vacation and introduce you to a few people."

His Dad nodded as if that sounded reasonable and so Ichigo missed it when he was knocked upside the head. "Baka, you could have just flown over any time you wanted. Don't try and fool your old man, you were stalling!"

There was something nostalgic in the action. "I had a date set, I was going to tell you, just," He sighed, "I wanted to get it all out at once and not have people rushing over or freaking out...then we were attacked by a near god-level being, so that went out the window."

A powerful hand patted his back. "It's ok," Chad rumbled. The next pat was very much harder, "So long as you tell us all now what we want to know."

Ichigo nodded and worked on giving them the bare bones of what he had been up to, how he had gone to another world. Who he had fought, his school life, what exactly it meant to be in a Peerage. Everything except what he knew his dad and possibly everyone else was going to freak out over. "There are a few things that I have to wait on to tell you all, because I want the people I am going to be talking about there and as you can see," He gestured behind him, "They are quite tired. Though not injured." He turned his head so he could look at Asia and Orihime as they tended the last of the injuries.

"And Inoue… is now a Devil?" Ishida asked, eyebrows raised.

"I...I...that was her choice..." Wow, that sounded really bad, but it was the truth, "But she saved Tsubaki's life and I am glad she was here."

Ishida folded his hands I'm still hung up on the fact that...you, of all people, are a Quincy."

That was fair, but still he could not help but feel a little insulted. "Came as a shock to me too." He did not say anything at his Dad, but well, the look he sent the man's way was hard and piercing. "I've been practicing it." His friend looked like he wanted to say something as to doubt the veracity of that statement, but held back.

"Quincy, Devil, Hollow, Shinigami." ...Could god be added to that list, he was not sure. "I have had a lot to work on in the past few months. That also contributed to the lack of communication." His work, training his new friends, going on dates...ya, he had been doing a lot of things.

"Guess it's my turn," Yourichi said, "Which one of these lovely ladies are you with?" The tone was meant to ease the situation.

Ichigo looked away and said. "That is one of the things I want to wait on."

There was absolute silence, even Chad blinked at that. "Nooo," His teacher leaned forward still grinning, "This is..this is amazing. You actually got a girl...no wonder you are able to tease." Her eyes flickered over the girls in the room. "Hmm perhaps that big boobied shrine madien?" He followed her line of sight and noted that the girl was sitting in a corner with her face drawn from exhaustion and something else.

"Or maybe that blue haired girl?" There were more than one of those right now, but he still gave no response. "Like I said Sensei, we will have to wait on that." He ignored his Dad wiping a tear from his eye, but with his enhanced hearing there was no escaping his quiet words."Masaki, your son is becoming a man, you would be so proud."

Sure...man...how would that change when they learned the full extent of his relationships, he had no idea. Kisuke interrupted and while his question was done in his normal light tone something about the way he said it set Ichigo's hair on end. "What have you told the Devils about Soul Society?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Everything." The shopkeeper had a hell of a poker face, but the absolute flinch that single world brought about was telling.

"I see." The smile was fake now. "Well, that is lovely." Yourichi did not seem surprised at all, but to be fair, she knew him better as a person. His Dad, well, he was going through a lot of emotions right now.

"Look, I know that they were at war with this pantheon...and two others," He mumbled, "Back when G..." He caught himself, "Way back when, but it's been what, several thousand years? Things have changed."

"How do you know about that?" Kisuke had refocused on him. "That is not common lore, not spoken about by almost any echelon of Soul Society and I know that the Devil's have not cared about that incident since their Civil War."

Ichigo held back a smile for once being the person in the know. "I have started dreaming about it."

The Shopkeeper opened and closed his mouth. "You are, impossible Kurosaki." Oddly that was said with a fondness that he had never heard before in the man's tone. "Can I ask who you are dreaming of when you do this?"

He had a really good guess, like ninety nine percent sure who he was dreaming about, but there was that one percent. "I don't know yet," He decided to say what he did know; "It's a boy and his father who disagreed with the war and the fact that Soul Society killed its god."

"Oh fuck." Kisuke murmured.

His Dad and Yourichi, along with Chad and Ishida looked very confused. "You mean the Soul King?"

Ichigo shook his head."No, this was back before there was a Soul Society."

"Ichigo," Kisuke said gently, "You should be very careful with what you know. Very, very careful." Ishida gave the shopkeeper a look of scorn. "This kind of information is the kind that people will kill over."

"I saved them," Ichigo replied, "Without me, there would be no Soul Society, it would be whatever Aizen wanted to make of it."

Kisuke nodded. "That is true and yet not everyone is a good person, not everyone has honor..." He frowned, "No, not quite, not everyone has the same definition of honor. I beg you to be careful with what you know."

Ichigo took a moment to think it over and nodded, as of right now he had no reason to get even more enemies. "Fine, we can move on."

"We will talk about this later Kurosaki." Ishida said. Odd how curious the Quincy was about Soul Society History that was before Quincy arrived in the picture.

"So, that thing you were all fighting, is there anymore like him?" Chad asked.

"Lots," Ichiog waved a hand, "But most of them don't want a new War of Three Powers...otherwise they would have shown up. I mean, the guy's entire Host did, that's not something you could miss."

They heard footsteps approaching them, two sets moving with purpose. "Sirzech-sama, Grayfia-san." He said in greeting, without turning his head.

"Please, as I understand it, without you she would have been killed. People who do that kind of favor for me have the right to just call me by my name."

"Alright, Sirzechs, how is Rias doing?"

"She is doing well, better than I expected, really. I will have to give it a few days before it fully hits her and then see."

Ichigo nodded and after a moment of thought turned to tap his forehead. Sirzechs voice spoke out in his mind verifying their connection within a few seconds. 'I have a general idea of how Sona is, but...Serafall?'

Sirzech winced, but answered though the thought link. 'I don't know, that blue skin thing was a new one and she seems to be content to just hold her sister.'

'If I may interrupt,' Both Maou and former Soul Reaper blinked as a new voice entered the connection. Their gazes turned to a woman giving orders over a phone, it sounded like she was getting reconstruction going for the town right that instant. She...she looked exactly like the Blond Teacher from To Love Ru, in keeping with the rest of Serafall's Peerage Theme of looking exactly like anime characters. Long blond hair, an absolutely sinful body, soft features, gentle curves, huge chest and butt, deep green eyes. But if you looked into those eyes you saw a look that a character like Tearju could not have made. It was a look of something old and powerful, strong enough to not only spy on the Maou's conversion, but admit it. 'When everything settles down, when my King goes off to spend some time alone, go to her. She needs someone and while I am more than happy to be that, she truly would want you. Go to her when the time is right and be ready to do what is needed.'

Both of the men blinked at her as she cut off her link to the conversion. 'Well, that is kind of your job, if you want to be with her.' Sirzechs thought, sounding relieved, as if he was worried the job might fall to him.

'Ok.' What the hell did they think he was, some sort of bastard? Of course he was going to talk to her, to try and help. Granted, it would have been as soon as this conversation was over, but if Serafall's Queen told him when was the best time, he would trust her judgment.

"Ok." He turned back to the knowing looks the Karakura Town crew was giving him, a gambit of looks. "Sorry, I had to ask about something personal, not appropriate for a group." He stood up. "I would like to introduce Sirzechs, holder of the title Maou Lucifer and his Wife Grayfia," He closed his mouth for a moment, then Grayfia coughed meaningfully, "The Ultimate Maid." He added as if he had never stopped.

Granted he was not sure if she could compete with Mori-san, but those were the kind of thoughts you kept to yourself. "A pleasure to meet you all." Sirzech said with a smile as Grayfia pulled up a chair for him. " It seems I have the honor of being the first to have a conversation with Soul Reapers and..." He glanced at Ichigo.

"Quincy," he pointed at Ishida, "and that's a Chad." The statement drew just a hint of rumbling laughter from said Chad.

"Yes, well, it is a pleasure."

"Before this goes any further Maou-sama," Kisuke said, "You should know none of us represent Soul Society."

"I am aware, I have heard his story and quite a story it was. I will admit, I found them a little fanciful at times, but that was before he went toe to toe with a Cadre of the Grigori, so that was my bad. Please, know that you are in no danger here, and that, at least among Devils, the old war has long been relegated to nearly forgotten history."

Kisuke nodded. "While that is good to know, do you have any clue how the Aesir, the Angel's and the Olympians think of the matter?"

"No, but if I had to hazard a guess, Odin and Zeus have long memories and are still around, so that is something to remember. As for Michael and his group, well, he tends to be the 'forgive and forget' sort for the most part."

Ishida made a disgusted noise and stood up, Ichigo glanced at Chad who nodded and both of them stood as well. "We will leave you adults to get things done." Ichigo said with none of the sarcasm he felt. "We have some catching up to do."

"As do we." His Dad reminded him.

"I know." And with that they moved to the stage where they could take a seat on its edge.

On one end of the stage was Mori-san, looking as prim as ever despite the blood-stains all over her white apron. Apparently some of the Fallen had tried a flanking attack and had run into her by herself...she did not look injured in the slightest and he could not remember either Asia or Inoue tending to her. The maid was following her orders even now, those had been to tend to Nel's needs, discipline, fun, and any other requirement while she was babysitting. Apparently Nel being in adult form did not change that, nor did Adult Nel seem to resist the good woman's control. She was sitting in a chair holding relatively still as the maid worked at her hair with a brush. Strong hands moving in quick simple motions and, judging by the sounds Nel was making, it was quite enjoyable.

"So, what is this about a god of Soul Society?"

Ichiog shrugged. "I don't know as much as I would like, I know that there was something before Soul Society, I know that it had a god, I know the subjects of that god rebelled and killed him." He had a few more things he suspected, but they were small details. "Currently I am seeing snippets of it from the point of view of a child. One born to a man who, I guess, was either friends with, or was just devout towards, the old god. Currently he just told off all the nobility and is on the defensive."

"Do you know why most of us cannot sense them?"

"No idea."

*Sigh* "Well, at least you are honest."

Chad laughed at that. "Now I have a question for all of you." Ichigo said. "How are things going in Karakura?"

"Less Hollows as of late," Chad replied, "None of them particularly powerful."

"A few odd people have been running around here and there," Ishida said, "My father and I have been keeping an eye on them, but so far they have done nothing much besides scout the town. We think they are looking for something, but other than that we got nothing."

"Tatsuki has been in kind of a slump," Chad noted, "She encouraged Inoue to follow her desires," Ya… him, "And held a strong face until she was out of sight." He sighed. "She won't leave her mother, but she really misses Inoue."

"We'll have to fix that." Ichigo sighed. "I've been so caught up in the mess that came our way and when I had the chance to go back I had that set date I could put it off to."

"Sounds like you were avoiding us." Chad mused.

He opened his mouth, then closed it and just nodded. "I left because I could not stand being useless." His mouth twitched in a cracked smile. "You had other things to fall back on Uryu...that and you were much stronger than me when it came to trauma. I had to get away for a semester or two to try to remind myself that there was a world without powers, without that kind of responsibility."

He looked over the friends he had made in this place. "And it worked for a little bit, but being me I managed to fall headfirst into the fire and came out like this." He looked down at his hand, white motes spinning around it. "I got my powers back, I got responsibility back, I...I gained more family. When a Peerage is formed correctly, with the influence of the Evil Pieces you become family. They bond you to each other and it was more effective on me then most, so I got all my power back. And when I did that I realized that I was just jealous, jealous of my friends that have saved me more times than I could count. Jealous of what they had, what I wanted" he looked down and shook his head "In that respect, I have been a pretty terrible friend to you all."

Ishida pushed his glasses up so that the flare hid his eyes. "You don't think I felt the same Kurosaki?" He let out a small laugh. "I don't expect perfection from myself and, just like you, when I got them back, everything felt better."

"I don't blame you," Chad grunted, "I understood trauma when I saw it. I don't know if I would be the same."

"No, you would be better than me." It was odd as both Ichigo and Ishida said it at the same time with the exact same certainty. The big man actually seemed surprised at their complete faith in him.

Chad held up his fist, opening and closing it. "My Abuelo thought I was better...I suppose that if you two think that now...it validates him."

Ichigo noticed a figure moving towards them and stood up to go give her a hand. As a tired yet satisfied Inoue Orihime sort of fell into him and just let him hold her up. Both of his friends looked at the sight and gave him knowing looks...oh if only they knew the half of it. "You look like you need a cot." He told her.

"No," She shook her head, "I want one of Sona's fluffy beds."

He chuckled. "I will see to it that you end up in one before this night is over, ok?"

"Mmmmmmph." She agreed. "Hello Ishida-kun, Sado-kun. Are you two hurt?"

"No." Chad replied and Ishida did not answer. "Ok." She sagged into him.

Ichigo decided to ask a question that had been bothering him "What did they have you do before you brought Tsubaki back from the dead?"

"Hmm?" She blinked her large grey eyes as they struggled to remain open. "I made a tunnel large enough to move everyone out, it was a lot of dirt."

"I kind of thought they would have you bending space."

She shook her head. "No, they gathered people into groups and I connected them to the tunnel, faster for everyone and less chance of it somehow being noticed. Of course I had to reject the concept of weight in several places to make sure the tunnel was sturdy or reject an object's ability to break." She was still mumbling something about how that particular use of her power had drained her immensely.

"Perhaps the more of a concept she has to reject, the harder it was. "But space is easy compared to that." Orihime whispered.

"Ok," Ichigo said, "Let's put you to bed"

She let out a long sigh. "No, I just remembered why I came over. Sona-sama and Rias-sama want to talk to you about a prisoner."

Right, the priest...the one that Nel had defeated...the one that Asia had saved. He glanced at Chad and Ishida. "Does not sound like our business," the quincy said, "I'm going to go have a look around this place, ask a few questions." They both looked at Chad who did not seem perturbed at all, nor inclined to move from his spot. "Ichigo" Ishida added "We will have to talk in private when you have the time, there is a lot I doubt you know about the Quincy things you should know."

He nodded, wondering how Ishida's preserve differed from Sensai's "I'll find you again later." He promised.

They both nodded and Ichigo let Orihime guide him while half carrying her to keep the poor girl on her feet. She led him out of the gym and into a side room where Sona, Rias, and Serafall, hovering protectively in the background, waited next to Asia. He could not help the worried look in his gaze as he met Serafall's eyes. They flashed with intense, almost insane degrees of emotion, he could see the violence in her stance at war with the relief and understanding that now was not the time or place for such actions. What worried him the most was that one of her hands was shifting between normal pale healthy skin and frostbite blue. The Maou quickly looked away from him and that set off even more alarm bells.

The room, however, was dominated by the huge slab of meat on the floor that was somehow still a human. Even old and unconscious, with two hoof shaped imprints in his head and a huge, ugly scar across his chest, only recently healed to the point where he would not bleed to death, that man was still intimidating. But not quite as intimidating as he had been before they took out Kokabiel. But then again he was an old man and did not have a Holy Sword, so good for them he guessed.

Rias began to speak as he looked "We wanted to run something by you, something Sona suggested to Orihime that she could do." Rias nodded at the form of Cardinal Vasco.

"As far as we can tell, everything he told Asia when he was trying to kill her was correct. He is under a compulsion."

"One with many commands." Sona added. "A good portion of them are dedicated to making sure he can't remove it himself." She held a paper in her hands. "My Onee's Bishop translated all the commands implanted in the Geass."

Rias spoke before she could really get going. "As he is, the man is a threat; even if we had Orihime erase the Geass he would still be a threat to Devilkind, period."

"He is the most powerful operative of the Church." Serafall said in a quiet voice. "One we can't afford just to give back like nothing ever happened. What is to say his honor won't prevent him from being used like this again." Her voice was the harshness of winter itself, cold and calculated because she could not afford to let any of her emotions leak out. "Despite the fact that you worked together with the Church, that does not make you all anything more than allies of convenience." Something of the winter in her voice abated. "Now, I am not suggesting we kill an old man while he is unconscious, but we will have to do something. And that is where Inoue-chan comes in." A hint of her old self shone through when she said Inoue-chan, but it vanished as the skin on her arm turned blue again.

"Well then, what do you need me here for?" Ichigo asked.

"Um," Sona looked a little uncomfortable, "She wanted your approval for it." Inoue nodded slowly, her eyes drifted closed then open in quick succession. "She thinks she can alter the Geass with her rejection, I can show her what letters and words to erase so that it will change the commands. Making him required to defend Asia with the same fervor as he had to try and kill her. It would also render him incapable of doing any harm to us directly or indirectly." Sona did not look happy, but she was a practical girl and Rias looked like she loved the thought of such a reversal, if it could really be called that.

"Would this be permanent?"

"For the foreseeable future yes." Serafall nodded. "We are not giving him back to the Church and if this is not acceptable, we are throwing him in the deepest, most secure hole we can find and erasing the doors from existence." She looked down upon the old man. "He has killed more of our kind than any other since the Great War, and he will continue to kill as ordered."

Well, that was a sucky choice, permanent imprisonment or slavery. Fun, fun, fun, and the end of this night had been looking up. He turned his gaze to Asia who was being very quiet. "What do you think?"

"I don't want him hurt, he was always kind to me and the others. He is a good man." Her fists clenched. "I don't want to be the reason he never sees the light of day again...besides," Her hand taped her heart, where the Evil Piece resided, "Some would say we are slaves and I think we are doing fine." Her lip trembled. "I don't want him to serve me, I don't want him to have to do anything he does not want." She put her face in her hands. "I just want him to be as happy as I can and this is the only way I see. I want to just let him go, remove the curse and be done with it but..." Her voice sounded very small, "That's not an option, no matter how much I want it to be." She reached down and stroked his head. "Perhaps this way there will be some chance for forgiveness and he might be able to go free."

Well, if Aizen had been sympathetic, and Ichigo was starting to wonder if the man was, he knew there was no way in hell any of them could have let the man go free, not after what he had done. Serafall looked like she was going to burst the girl's bubble, but held back and said nothing. Ichigo rubbed at his temples...why did he feel like fighting Kokabiel had been easier than this, though? "Please Inoue, if you have the strength." He said at last.

With a nod Inoue got her legs steady and took the paper Sona handed her. A bubble of orange light shrouded the man and after only about sixty seconds it was done. The mark on his head shifted to orange then faded away as if it had never been there. Inoue collapsed, but he had been ready and caught her with ease. There was a moment of panic in his heart before she curled up against him as best she could, clearly unconscious. He let out a long breath. "So, what the hell are we going to do with him?"

Sona rubbed at her eyes as Asia looked over both of them with tearful thanks. "I will have to think of something."

"I, for one," Serafall said, "Will be leaving one of my people here to keep an eye on things, just in case." Sona did not make any argument and Ichigo felt the same way. The more protection the better. Sona and Rias followed him as he walked out with Orihime. Serafall seemed to want to make sure Inoue's powers had worked. Given that he was the current greatest threat in the building, it fit her current state of mind.

"How are you two holding up?"

"Better than I thought, I'm still running on my adrenaline high, so that might change soon." Rias said. Odd that it was lasting so long, he thought.

He turned to look at Sona, the girl's expression was a neutral mask that cracked the longer you looked at it. "I'm," She sighed as both of them gave her knowing looks, "Exhausted. That spell I cast took everything I had to summon and control." Her mouth twitched. "To top that all off, part of me is still having a hard time accepting that Inoue-san can defeat death. That Tsubaki was dead and then not. She does not remember anything after the moment she was stabbed." One of her hands dug into her arm hard enough to draw blood. "I honestly need a night's sleep and time to work this out on my own," The girl shook her head, "but I can't. Not when there is so much work left to do. Not when my sister and your brother are here."

"Sona, do you think you will make a positive contribution to this mess if you are half dead?" He chided her gently. "If that is what you need, then take Inoue to your place, get her to bed and at least get a few hours rest."

"My sister needs me right now," Sona let out a breath, "She's...not fully stable right now. I worry about leaving her alone this long. I just needed a quick break." She half stumbled on her feet.

"Then go back, get her to let a member of her Peerage watch over Vasco and drag her into bed with you." Rais said as if it was the most obvious solution in the world.

Sona looked for a moment like she might fight them on that but at another stumble she nodded. "I need to go check on the rest of my Peerage first; I'll get Tsubaki to help me if she is able."

"Inoue put her back to one hundred percent." Ichigo stated. "The doctors who looked her over could not find a single injury."

"I know, its just so amazing." She shook her head. "There is no one in the world, short of Hades himself, that could do what she did. This girl is terrifying, humbling even." This time when Sona stumbled Rias was there to catch her and, despite the girl's protests, acted as a crutch of sorts. Sona gave up after a few steps and leaned into her best friend.

"Do you need me to help you home?" Rias teased. "I do have a girl who wants to talk to me in private, but she can wait." Sona muttered something about 'stupid big-breasted bimbo best friends'.

They got back to the gym and Ichigo just sort of stood there, holding Inoue until Sona, Rias and Tsubaki came back. Said girl was looking quite well for the recently deceased and approached Inoue with the same kind of awe and respect you might approach a church with. The Queen took the girl from his arms and followed the two Kings. Though he heard her whispering words of gratitude to the girl.

Smiling Ichigo took a moment to breath out a little, before moving on to his next battle. Akeno still sat in one of the corners, like everyone she was exhausted, but unlike everyone her wings had not been dismissed. Two Devil wings and two black Angelic wings were curled about her body like a ward. She noticed him and one of the black wings curled across her eyes "I heard what you did." He said gently.

"Lost?" she replied

"No, did everything in your power to protect." He smiled and brushed her wing aside. "You loved them enough that you would use what you hated, for their sake. Hell, you almost won against the strongest human alive and, from what Nel has told me, there was not all that much left of him when she took to the field."

"Ah Nel," Something of her old self returned to her voice, "That woman has nice tits does she not? They are very tan right now though, like inverse tan lines."

Given that he was not going to argue, he just moved past that statement. "Now all you need to do is get a better control of your powers and next time you won't be stopped."

"One," The Queen said, "Nel is exaggerating my contributions, she is simply so powerful and skilled that, lacking a true Holy Blade, it was simply no contest. Two, better control would not have helped, what I need is to be able to deal with opponents like him, who can ignore my attacks."

"Oh...so that's what you were doing here, I thought you were moping."

"Asia is alive, your familiar is a living nuclear bombshell more powerful than anyone here, save you and the Maou."

Ichigio "I'm not so sure about that, at this moment in time, yes, but she has both her power and mine. I honestly don't know her full strength."

Akeno nodded. "Then she could break the familiar bond whenever she wanted."

"I would not stop her if she did."

Akeno sighed. "What is it about you that inspires people to do stupid things, like fall in love, or fight when there is no hope? Cast aside the things that have held them back for years?"

"Main character syndrome?"

That got a laugh. "Then we are in one shitty fanfiction, because I have not gotten bent over a desk by you yet."

"You're impossible Akeno."

"That is what makes me sexy, though now I have to come to terms with the fact that I am a cup size smaller than your familiar."

Again at a loss for where to take this conversion he went back to a previous subject. "So, about that close range option?"

"Oh, yes, that. I will have to go looking for some decent reinforcement magic, though if I get lucky perhaps you will mark me and make that point moot. Other than that, I will have to actually learn how to fight up close, see if I can throw together some spells that don't target a person."

"Like a chilling fog spell from DnD?"

"Yes, though I would want to do a variant which I could see though."

"Well, we all have learned something from this night so I am glad you are taking it seriously."

"Oh, and what did you learn?"

"Not to get caught up in the heat of a battle, I was fast enough to stop the blow that almost killed Tsubaki, I just did not see it coming...I also learned once again how grateful I am for Inoue." He paused for a moment. "Furthermore I'm going to have to take you and Asia to a place outside of town for our date, its going to be a few days before everything is back to normal and that is only because of magic."

"It pleases me to no end that you have your priorities straight. Now might I suggest you go spend some time with poor little Koneko. She is spying on us, trying to be surreptitious, but her adorable cat ears keep flattening like all cats do when they are sad."

He nodded and pushed himself to his feet. "If you need to talk I'm still open, just so you know."

The Queen ran a hand over her black-feathered wings. "It's not as bad as I thought it would be...I think I am going to be fine."

He hesitated for a moment. "May I touch those?" He pointed at her wings.

An actually good-honest blush appeared on her face and the wing jerked back protectively. "N-no." The Queen blushed even harder at the quiver in her voice. "Not yet, let me get used to them first and then we can get back to it." He managed not to laugh until his back was to her, which still earned him a kick to his backside, but the look on her face had been worth it.

Koneko had turned her back to them as if she was snoozing in her cot, but her white ears were standing up and twitching at his every foot step. "How are you doing?" He asked, pulling up a seat next to her.

The ears quivered and a small part of her tail twitched as the Rook turned over to look at him. Her cheeks were puffed out in annoyance and her gold eyes glared at him. "Fine." She mumbled.

So, it seemed with the cat traits all fully active the more cat-like the girl became...neat. He had experience dealing with cats and even experience dealing with cats that became girls.

Granted, that had been him looking away as one bathed with him, but experience was still experience. "Sorry I took so long to get there, I still have a lot of people I need to talk to, but I wanted to know how you really are doing. Has Inoue gotten to see you yet?"

The Neko nodded and the annoyance in her gaze slipping away as he gently moved a hand over her fluffy ears. "Not fair." She mumbled. She did not tell him to stop however, so he kept right on doing what he was doing.

"You were pretty amazing out there, you know?" Her gold eyes flickered slightly. "Fast, strong, and, even though it was hurting you, the damage you did to our enemy was amazing."

"Ya, until some human showed up and stomped my head in."

"Ya, I've my own experience with getting my own shit stomped in." His hands found the perfect spot on her ears and a purr began to rumble in her chest. "But when I have fallen down, I've gotten back up. Sometimes by my will, sometimes because others have dragged my sorry ass back to its feet." The memory of his battle with the first Espada felt so vivid at that moment. "So once you have gotten some rest, we can work on getting your power under control… and have that talk you wanted." The purr became audible.

He chuckled. "Am I forgiven now?" Her tail slipped around his arm curling itself across his skin. "Close enough."

"Mmmm."

"I know a bit of something about a power that tears your body apart, it happened to me when I first used my Bankai, it happened to Rias, though she has gotten a lot better a lot faster than I did." Perhaps she would be able to provide some advice to both of them, if that was the case. "For me it was the simple fact that my body was not strong enough, my spiritual power was too great for it."

"Ok." She mumbled.

"Love you." he whispered.

"I know." She nodded, then gave him a determined look. "I fully plan on making this power my own, seeing how far I can go." Her mouth twitched. "I might not be a Super Devil, but my goal is to reach those heights anyway."

"Well then, I am perfectly willing to help."

He stood up, gently withdrawing his hand from her tail. "I need to go talk to my Dad, it seems Sirzechs has let him go."

Koneko turned her whole body so she could get a good look at his old man. "So that's your papa?"

Ichigo nodded. "I'm going to introduce you all to him when I get the chance."

"At the same time?"

"I figure it's better to rip off the bandage rather than draw it out."

"Ok, though that's not going to happen until tomorrow." Behind them the two Peerages of the Maou were starting to teleport people away and from the senses of his mind, it was to Sona's home, as there was plenty of room.

"I know, I will see you at Sona's." Koneko nodded and settled into her cot, eyes closing.

Ichigo weaved around Devils going about the business of reorganization, moving gently, easily. He put a hand in his hair for a moment, to make sure it was all back to orange. He had recognized the black, it had been the same when he had thrown himself into the Final Getsuga Tenshou. Some part of that had perhaps returned, or something else in him had shifted, had grown, seeing as his strength in Banaki had surpassed that of the Cadre. Even in this form he felt stronger, just as when he had gained his Rook Pieces. He would have to talk to Zangetsu and White, make sure he would not accidentally go into that form. It might burn away all his power for a moment of godhood, but it was not worth the risk. Still, he was the only one Inoue had not treated and he felt fine, the burning in his limbs was gone. He was tired, but even that was a dim sensation rather than all encompassing exhaustion like right after the battle. What he did know was that he had changed again and he needed to find out how much.

He found his Dad leaning against the far wall of the Gym, watching everything, Sirzechs was still conversing with Kisuke, and Yourichi had vanished, though he could still feel her presence in the area. His Dad's hand twitched once, as if looking for a cigarette, but the old man only did that once a year. "How are the girls?" Ichigo asked, taking a spot beside him.

"Good, for the most part. Both are at the shop right now, so I will have to get back soon."

"Damn, I was going to..."

"You're coming over next week right?"

Ichigo nodded. "Now, more than ever."

"I can wait 'til then to see if I am getting some grandkids." The tone was joking, but when Ichigo did not laugh Isshin got a hopeful look on his face. "Well, Grandkids in the future, I don't think one right now would be a good thing."

"Yes Dad."

He nodded at where Nel was sitting. "How did she get here and," His eyes narrowed, "how are you dealing with her dietary needs?"

"I found her when I was looking for a Familiar." He went quickly through the story. "We have a bond now, and I can feed her directly with my own Reiatsu, so it's not an issue." He shrugged. "She says mine tastes better anyway."

His Dad coughed slightly looking a little red. "And how did a creature like her end up in a place she had no business being in?"

Ichigo pursued his lips tightly and sent a thought to Sona with a question. A moment later a barrier that kept in all sound fell around them. "Can I get your word that...unless you think it necessary, you won't tell anyone what I tell you?"

Isshin raised an eyebrow as a look of worry stole across his face. "I can do that." The worry vanished as a look of pure love replaced. "Can I point out how much that kind of promise tells me about you, my son?" He shook his head. "Not 'take this secret to your grave', not 'don't tell anyone', just 'please, if you feel like it, keep this a secret'."

Ichigo felt more than a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head. "It is important Dad, though I don't know how."

"You have my word Ichigo, you always do."

He liked this kind of family bonding, his Dad liked to surprise attack him in his sleep and call that bonding. "Ok, what do you know of the Quincy King?"

Just that question ratcheted up the tension by ten. There was a gambit of emotions that ran across his Dad's face, shock, worry, confusion, a moment of all consuming rage then nothing. "I do not know as much as some," He nodded in the direction of Kisuke, "Or Ryuken, for that matter. He is not a subject covered in Shinigami history, what little I know about him comes from your Mother."

His heart clenched at that word. "I knew Mom was a Quincy, I mean where else would I get this power? He is one of the people who appears in my dreams, and though he has not shown up in person in awhile he is the source of my dreams. I also know that while he did have a connection to me, it was severed."

Sudden fierce joy shone in his Dad's eyes for a moment. "How do you know this is true?"

Now he could not say, because the White God did it. That was something he was going to keep quiet about for now. "Please trust me, I am very sure."

Isshin's shoulders sagged. "Good."

"What did Mom say about him?"

His dad paused for a moment, no doubt recalling the memory of his wife. "The sealed King of the Quincy. Over 900 years, he shall recover his heartbeat. Over 90 years, he shall recover his intellect. Over 9 years, he shall recover his power. And over 9 days, he shall recover the world."

That…that did not sound good at all. A memory unbidden surfaced, one of Zangetsu telling him that the way he gave power, gave it away to the person and received something from them in return. How the Quincy King gave his power away, but took it all back plus whatever the person had cultivated. "Thank you Dad." He let out a long sigh "But I do have another question." There was no response, so perhaps he knew what it was going to be. "Mom was a Quincy….how was a Hollow able to kill her so easily?" His voice became very quiet. "Was it because of me?"

Isshin was quiet for a few long moments. "I don't know, I was not there, but never believe it was your fault."

It was far too late for that. "What did you think happened?"

His Dad looked towards Kisuke, still talking to the Maou, his fingers drummed along the edge of his Zanpakuto. "That, I simply do not know, your Mother did not use her powers much after you were born. She did not need to yet...I don't think she had her powers on that day. She would never have been beaten otherwise; she was like you in that way…"

Ichigo closed his eyes and took in a few deep breaths, those facts made a number of connections that did not paint a pretty picture. "Thank you Dad."

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you son, and your Mother would be too." His mouth curved into a sad smile. "Though she would be asking if grandkids were on the way...and yes, she would remember you are just sixteen. She would be messing with your head."

Ichigo felt no shame as he rubbed at his stinging eyes. "I'll have to take your word on that, I was always the little Mama's boy she doted on."

He sent a message to Sona and the barrier fell. "You sure you can't stay the night? You could bring over the girls?"

"You probably don't have the room for all of us."

"Sona has lots of room."

"You're staying at a girl's house?" He was smiling. "Which one?"

"First, I stay in her guest house." He did not know why he was defending himself, they had literally had sex this morning...hell, he wondered if she would not mind him sleeping in her bed. "Second, it's really a mansion and Third,'' He pointed to Sona. "That's her."

Isshin followed his finger to the girl and gave her a once over that any future Father or Mother-in-law could do. "Wow Son, she seems like a very serious type."

"She is, but that's not a bad thing, she just needs a bit of help every now and then."

"Hmmm," his dad grinned, "Tell you what. When you bring yourself over to visit, let me guess who your girlfriend is first."

Ichigo shrugged. "Sure, but I can guarantee you will be wrong somewhat."

"Don't count your old man's instinct out yet."

"It won't be because of that...hell, your instinct might be right, I just don't think you will listen to it."

"Let's make a bet then. If you win I won't pull out the baby pictures."

"No, you can do that," He waved a hand, "I have no problem with anyone seeing that."

"Oh...embarrassing stories of your past?"

"No, that's fine too, people will get a good laugh."

Isshin bit his lip. "I won't go crying to your mother?"

"Even if you make that promise you will not be able to keep it."

"Fine, I won't wake you up with a flying sidekick."

Ichigo nodded. "That works."

"But if I win the lucky girl has to do a marriage interview with me as the judge."

"Alright." Ichigo shrugged.

"Hmmm, you really are confident."

"You have no idea." He turned and hugged his Dad just a moment. "Thank you for cheering me up."

The teasing tone left his dad's voice. "You're welcome and you can forget the bet that was just a joke."

"Love you Dad."

"Love you to Son."

"Ok, I still have some people to thank so…"

"I need to get going, tell your Sisters you are safe and all that, make sure to call them. Just a few months of you being away and they miss you really badly."

"I will Dad."

With that Isshin walked over to say something to Kisuke who nodded, and his Dad shook hands with the Maou Sirzechs before leaving the building and starting to move rapidly away.

"There any room for me, I don't feel like going home tonight?"

He resisted the urge to yelp as Yourchi sort of appeared behind him. He turned rapidly then looked away just as quickly. Gods dammit the Kuoh Academy Uniform was too short on normal girls, let alone his adult teacher. It was worse because it was too small for her anyway and dammit she was doing this on purpose. "Glad you like, Ichi-boy." She pressed her arms together which made her chest do some enticing things. Thankfully he had much more practice at this then he had back when they had been in a hot spring.

"Those are very nice, but I have seen bigger."

This time it seemed she was prepared for his new resilience. "Yes, but I will bet none of them had been chocolate perfection, like mine."

He coughed. "That is true, but for me any kind looks good." That got her to blink. Yes, score one for him.

"Right, right, you have always been more of an ass man" He blinked hard at that. How in the hell had she known that?

"I like all kinds of those too."

She made a clicking sound. "Why Ichigo, you have become quite the pervert."

He put his hand over his heart. "Wounded to my core that my Sensei thinks so poorly of me."

"I did not say it was a bad thing," She leaned forward, "Why do you think I went into that spring with you, all you had to do was make a move."

Shit, he damn well knew she had been teaseing him back then, but his stupid mind went. "Hey, what if she means it?"

"Well then, you should try it again, Sona's house has quite the set up." The words came out of his mouth before his mind could accept surrender to her superior teasing skills. Somehow the way he said it, the tone he used, it sounded convincing even to his ears. Yourichi actually took a step back in shock before narrowing her eyes at his sudden shit eating grin. "Got you."

Her narrowed eyes never faltered, though she did smile. "Damn Kid, I have never been more proud of you."

He bowed gracefully. "I learned from the best."

That seemed to salve the wound a little as her gaze softened and she gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "Brat."

Ichigo took in a breath. "What I should say to you is, Thank you Yoruichi-Sensei, for saving us, for coming so quickly."

Her expression grew more serious. "Anytime kid, that's what adults are supposed to do." He decided to risk a reaction and hugged her. The woman stiffened as if she did not know how to respond to a chaste hug, but returned it after a moment.

"I will get you a room to stay in," He promised, "And let me be the first to tell you that the beds there are amazing, you will never sleep so soundly again."

"Don't tempt me to steal one." She cautioned before looking over all who were still in the room. "Loots of nice looking girls around Ichi-boy, though the fact that you managed to get with one of them seems like a minor miracle."

"No arguments from me." He responded.

"Hmm four of them seem to be taken though."

"Issei does want a harem, it's kind of his life goal." He nodded at the boy and two girls, "And Kiba just attracts them on his own."

"Hah, both the other boys you know have two girls." She wiped a false tear from her eyes. "Ahh to be young." She looked him up and down. "Hmm...nah it would be too much to hope that you somehow managed to get two girls." His mouth twitched. "Though I suppose you could call me when you finally get up the courage to take said girl to bed...though in your case it will almost have to be her taking you to bed. Anyway, I can give you some advice and pointers, perhaps even a demonstration with powerpoints."

Ichigo did his best not to show anything. "Why go to all that trouble when you could just hop into bed and show us the fun way?"

Judging from the way she blinked, she must not have excepted him to be able to joke about sex yet. "Damn Kid, what have they done to you and where can I get the lessons?"

"Oh, you know," He waved a hand, "You smash my head hard enough into a wall, it will eventually break."

"The head or the wall?"

"Both."

"Good answer." Yoruichi looked down at her chest, the uniform had not been fully buttoned, not that she would have been able to. "Damn these are quite revealing...I like it."

"The five other boys' at the school agree with you."

"Oh? You're not one of them?"

"No, no it's quite sexy, but that's the problem," He shook his head, "Why is it so sexy and the best answer is that the founder had a clear fetish...he even put the uniform into the school charter."

"Sounds like a man of...culture."

Ichigo tilted his head. "Yoruichi-Sensei, are you just repeating stuff you found online?"

"Ya pretty much, I mostly look at it for porn though."

"Sure you do." He rolled his eyes.

She put her hand over her heart. "When you say it like that you imply that I am some sort of loose woman, Ichigo."

"You can get what you want when you want; why in the hell would you need porn?"

"For all the niche stuff. Like, did you know that two guys can put their …. And can pound a girl in the same….."

Ichigo plugged his ears. "I don't want to know!"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, at least you still have some shame; it makes me feel better that it is not all gone."

Ichigo scratched the back of his head. "Uh...you're welcome?"

She smiled at him and the teasing was gone, it was a warm friendly smile. "Keep being you Ichigo, it gives me hope for the future." Well, that got real intimate real fast; with a sigh he just hugged the woman again.

"I don't know if I ever thanked you for teaching me, so thank you. What you showed me has saved my life more times than I can count."

With a small motion she ruffled his hair. "Glad I could help."

He let go and nodded. "Thank you Yoruichi," He glanced behind him, "I need to go talk to a few people, I will make sure to get you a room for the night."

The woman yawned like a cat and he could almost feel Koneko stiffen and take note from her cot. "Got ya." She gave him one last pat on the shoulder before moving aside and letting him walk to the stage...then she gave him a firm slap on the butt before vanishing like the Goddess of the Flash she was.

"Well, that was unnecessary." He mumbled at her fading laughter.

So doing his best to ignore that Ichigo jumped onto the stage and walked over to where Nel and Mori sat. The Arrancar looked halfway to her peak, an odd reaction to be sure as the Maid was just doing her hair. The woman nodded at him, her serious expression nonetheless containing gratitude. She did not need to say anything, nor did he need to respond with words, Mori-san was just that kind of woman.

"Nel." He said gently.

The Arrancar opened one eye to look at him. 'Yes?' The word came into his head though the familiar bond; Her actual mouth seemed busy making low pleased sounds.

'You saved Asia today,' He reached out and took her hand, 'Thank you so much for that.'

Her eyes flared with green light. 'You're welcome Itsygo.' The use of her nickname was deliberate, but it felt unique, like something only they shared.

'Anything I can do, anything you want that I can get, just ask.'

Her mouth curved upward in a smile. 'I will keep that in mind and let you know when I want my prize.' The amusement left her tone. 'How is Asia?'

'Doing good, Inoue did something to the Geass on Vasco, I guess he kind of works for us now.'

'Good, we will treat him better than those that used him. I think he will enjoy teaching kids.'

Ichigo titled his head. 'You think Sona is going to make him a teacher?'

'Oh yes, the Strongest Human on the planet has many things to pass on, it's all a matter of her finding a fit for him. Perhaps religion and being a coach, if I had to guess.' Ichigo gave that a thought and found it quite plausible.

'Again Nel, thank you.'

'I am your familiar Ichigo, it's what I do.'

"Well," He said aloud, "You are the best familiar ever, don't let anyone tell you different." The Arrancar's mouth quirked a little, but she said nothing as he moved away.

He found his way over to a bed where Kiba lay, eyes still closed, his hands back and better than ever. He looked like he was going to wake up soon. Reya sat by his side and judging by the second chair, Tsubaki must have been here as well, once she had woken up.

"How is he doing?" He asked, though he knew the answer already.

"Good, Sirzechs-Sama's Doctor looked him over, said there is no damage whatsoever, that he was just exhausted."

"Inoue is the best healer." Everyone in Karakura town could agree on that.

"From what I understand, she is not really healing anything."

He shrugged. "If you want to get down to the nuts and bolts, no, but the end result is the same."

Reya put a hand on Kiba's forehead and the boy stirred slightly. "True, but I never thought I would see the dead brought back to life. I can't help but wonder what kind of consequences might happen for such an act."

"So far, she had been kidnapped by people wishing to use her power for themselves."

"I know," She looked away, "I did not mean physical consequences, and I don't want that to sound rude or callous. But death is part of this world, to just unmake it by will alone, such an act must be noticed at the very least."

"Noticed by whom?" Ichigo asked. "No one seems to be able to sense Spiritual Power, outside of the Shinigami Pantheon."

"True," Reya nodded, "But Kaichou was able to turn Inoue into a Devil."

That...was true, but whatever her powers she had still been human and he figured that was what mattered. "That is a good point," He sighed, "But whatever the case, I am grateful for her."

"Me too." Reya turned back to Kiba and Ichigo moved away, noting that the Maou and Kisuke had stood up and were walking outside for a further conversation. Well, guess he would have to wait to ask that man a few questions he had. Just as he was about to go and help out with the movement of people and things however he could, he noted a change. A soul shifting. He followed that feeling, moving in a blur of Flash Steps until he was outside. He blinked, blinked hard as Xenovia got off of one knee before Rias, there was just a hint of vindictive pleasure in his King's eyes and it was easy to see why. Xenovia was not human anymore, by this point he could tell the differences that Evil Pieces had on people. It seemed they just gained a new Knight...he wondered if Rias had done this because she liked the idea of spitting in the Church's face or because having the oh-so-sure exorcist ask to be turned was too much of a delicious irony to ignore.

Well, it was not like he was against this turn of events, as far as he was concerned the moment she had thrown herself into Asia's defence she had earned a second chance with him. "Oh Lord, please protect this fallen soul, may her path be blessed, even if she has fallen from your grace." He followed the voice until he found Irina kneeling on the ground. He noted she had the cracked Excalibur on her back, but did not move towards her. He could feel the White God listening from within him. "May she find what she seeks even in her despair, and know that I will never lose faith. Dead or not, you are still my God and if you are not there anymore, then it falls to your faithful to create the world you envisioned." She paused for a moment "Just don't expect perfection from your servant, Issei has become rather handsome of late...uh..um...amen." The girl coughed, an embarrassed blush staining her cheeks.

"Euge bone serve et fidelis." The words came out of his mouth and though he did not understand them, he should have, Latin was one of the languages his Devil Power provided him with...but not this one apparently.

The girl stiffened, there was a light glow from the Excalibur on her back and the blade fixed itself and the energy of the sword attached itself to her soul. "Um, hi," She was on her feet and taking two steps back as she said it. "I'm not staying, I swear."

Ichigo Kurosaki looked over Irina, she was dressed in her cloak again and when he blinked he noted that Excalibur was covered in wrappings, yet he knew he had seen it clear as day. "You're leaving?"

She hesitated, glancing back at her former partner, the new Knight was walking back into the school at Rias's side looking...calm, almost relieved. "There is no reason for me to stay." She shifted back again. "I mean, no one has said anything, but this alliance has reached its end."

"And you want to get out of here before Kiba wakes up and tries to go on a sword destroying rampage?" Not that Ichigo was sure he even would at this point, but one never knew.

The Exorcist did not answer that. "I am glad you all survived, I am glad I got to help save the people of this town. A little annoyed that I did not have the wings to get to the battle on time, but you can't have everything, now can you?"

"No." He glanced back at the school. "I'm not going to stop you, the sword has just bound itself to you, so it's not like anyone else can use now."

She blinked. "What?"

"Nevermind that right now, I do have some advice for you and you can tell this to your superior, or priest or, hell, even to Michael himself. The people who sent Vasco after us, after Asia, that is not something I can ignore, the Church has one month to fix that issue, otherwise I will do that for them." He lowered his voice, his eyes flickering yellow. "And no one is going to like that."

Irina took a few more steps back and hesitated. "I will tell them," She let out a shivering breath, "But they were just doing their job."

"True," Ichigo nodded, "And I am doing mine. I am a guardian, Irina, and I have invaded other worlds for less than what was done here tonight."

The Exorcist let out a long sigh and seemed to realize that he was not going to harm her. "I promise I will tell them," She nodded, "Hell, I promise that I will get a hold of the big man upstairs and tell him."

"You mean Michael?"

"Well, he is the one sitting in the chair." She grinned. "Now that I know that, I think I can get a hold of him." The grin faded. "I hope it does not come to this though. I do not want to fight you, I would die if I tried."

"You helped me protect my own, I would not kill you, but you still won't be able to stop me."

She gave him a firm look. "Not yet Devil-kun but just you wait."

"I will...also you might want to say goodbye to Issei first, he is going to have to remember you in a romantic light, otherwise those two will push you out of his head."

The girl blushed like a cherry and glared at him, opening her mouth then closing it and giving herself a few moments to think. "Thank you."

With a nod Ichigo turned away and began to walk back into the school...after a moment Irina followed him.

1

1

1

A man sat upon a throne of obsidian; he was an imposing figure, sitting at over seven feet tall with olive skin and curly dark hair. His bearing and appearance was one of middle age, with the wisdom of centuries in his eyes. He wore a simple black suit finely made from the material of his realm and upon his head a black band of iron sat upon his brow. Several dark orbs moved in a lazy circle about six inches from his head. Each holding an orbit and position as old as time, the jewels of the crown, so to speak, though for all, save a select few, to touch them meant death.

Honestly, he preferred this form to his Skeleton Pope ensemble, that had its place when he needed to leave his realm or do diplomacy, but his wife preferred sex when he had the proper parts for such an act. He had many names, but the one all knew him by, was Hades, the King of the Dead, Lord of the Underworld, Judge of Souls, the man to whom all the riches of the earth belonged.

The Lord of the Dead nodded as a skeleton came to his throne. "My King," It whispered in a dry wheeze, "Lord Thanatos has...declined your request for a meeting." The undead looked calm about the fact that it might very well be destroyed. "However, he has offered an alternative means of communication." It held out a small black flip phone and Hades's eye twitched once. He took it out of the Skeleton's hand and with a single gesture the undead disintegrate into dust.

"Thanatos." Hades said into the open phone with a low growl.

"Boss." The Strongest Grim Reaper replied.

"I find your avoidance of me, irritating."

"And I find your presence irritating."

Hades bit back a curse, he knew he should have kept the Grim Reaper under tighter control when he was weak enough for that to be viable. He had been arrogant in thinking that just because he created him that it would be enough to instill true loyalty. "Well, that impasse will be crossed one day, all I wish to ask of you is a single question."

"Let me guess, the resurrection?"

"Yes, I have gone to great pains to make sure such a thing is impossible for anything short of a major god and find it annoying when I am cheated out of my due."

"You do know that soul was not going to you, right?"

"That matters little, in time all souls will go to me. Now, as your lord, tell me, what do you know?"

Thanatos sighed "It was not resurrection."

"Oh?"

"It's not that they died and were pulled back. It was that they died, and then they did not."

Hades was silent for a moment. "What?"

"I even checked with the Fates, they seem to be in a panic over what they seem to think is a newborn goddess or at least one currently in the making."

That sounded like something he needed to get moving on fast. "Tell me more."

"They don't know who she is, or what she is, they can't even find her. They only know of her existence because the threads of fate cannot touch her. They know that her power allows her to impose her will upon reality."

"But that would imply a deity with domains over everything. There has not been one since the death of the White God."

He could almost hear his greatest Grim Reaper shrug. "Well, that is all I know."

"Hmmm you are being more helpful than normal Thanatos."

"I'm always a helpful one boss, got to go." The phone clicked as the God of the Dead found himself hung up on.

Hades took three deep calming breaths. "Summon my reapers, I have a new task for them." He paused for a moment then remembered he had just destroyed his latest chamberlain. "Right," He mumbled, "First make a new one, and then give it orders."

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Captain Genryusai Shingekuni Yamamoto sat still upon his seat listening intently to the masked Shinigami of the Onmitsukido (Stealth Forces). "This is all we have sir, there has not been much time for us to gather intel on the situation. All we know is that whatever was happening seems to be over, the one Ichigo Kurosaki is still alive. We just received a report that his father had left and is returning to Karakura town. As for the state of the battle, we do know the Devils won and that Kurosaki and his allies were assisting them. There is not much more we can gain so long as we are kept outside the zone."

"You and yours have done well, given what you have. Do not enter the zone for any reason." He let out a long breath. "I want to find out why we were not informed that he had moved to that area."

"Our Captain asked that same question and is working on it right now, though our current assumption is that he left his badge behind when he left. It was not a high priority, given his status as a mere human. Something that we are rectifying as we speak."

Yamamoto nodded and the agent stood up and left as quietly and quickly as he had come. No sooner had he left then two sets of footsteps entered the Captains meeting room. He recognized the footsteps so when Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the 12th Division, walked in with his second in command he was prepared. His lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi was at his side as she normally was and almost at once began a slow walk around the room. The Captain of the 12th did not say anything and Yamamoto felt no need to to start. Besides, the Lieutenant was just walking around the room for no reason, there were many factions in the Soul Society that would have loved an ear in the room at any sort of Captain meeting. Factions that had succeeded on more than one occasion. After some time had passed the girl nodded at her father.

"We have an issue," Kurotsuchi stated with no preamble, "And I think you know what it is." The Head Captain nodded slightly. "I just received this." Nemu walked up to him and handed him a letter, one sealed with the mark of the Central 46.

His old eyes were still sharp as knives and as they flicked over the paper he took it all in at once. "This is...unfortunate."

"They have not told me to do anything, merely to be ready." He made a sound of disgust. "They grow scared and wary, looking for another Aizen around every corner."

"It would not be so bad, except that it brings up the possibility of the dead war returning to life."

"Yes, and they think the best way to fix it is by blackmail."

"You disagree?"

"You have seen my numbers, what is more, you have seen how often that one in particular has made the smallest changes happen. I normally would suggest removing him."

"We cannot, he had too many allies among us, that would be as good as starting a Civil War."

"I agree, however, that the chance that the blackmail of this nature is very slim and could very well start the Civil War anyway."

Yamamoto put a hand to his forehead, eyes closed. "Of all times, this is the moment we cannot afford more enemies, especially one who has done so much for us."

"You have sworn us to their service when they demanded it. While that does not mean a thing to me, I assume it does to you."

"It was the will of the Soul King."

"It was the will of his Guards." The 12th corrected.

"That matters little, and you are correct."

"Might I suggest my proposal?" Yamamoto looked down at his one hand, for a moment they seemed stained with so much ash that it would never come off. He must have mistook that for hesitation because Kurotsuchi continued. "That will guarantee he will not have anything against us, that we have a method of some control over him, and we give him something he wants."

"I know...furthermore we owe him." The Head Captain stated firmly. "We have honor here, honor and practicality. I will begin the plan as you have laid out, let us hope that it will all be for nothing."

Kurotsuchi nodded. "Shall I send for Rukia Kuchiki?" He paused. "Or rather send for her in your name."

"Yes." The word was hard, spoken by the man who was loyal to the concept of Soul Society above all else. In that name sacrifices had to be made, and to make it all better, the sacrifice would be willing...there were times when he truly hated himself.

Kurotsuchi bowed and turned leaving the room Nemu in tow, the Head Captain let out a breath and composed himself. Taking the time to meditate and center himself for what he had to do, they had some time and it would only be prudent to use all of it.

The time slowly slipped by, it gave the Head Captain time to think, to take in the full measure of what they were about to do. Treason, so that they might not commit the ultimate treason, sacrificing a fine officer for the good of many. Ruthlessly using a position, feeling as if it was a piece on a chess board. He hated it, hated it for its necessity, hated it because it should never have come to this.

His expression never changed during this time, so there was no need to prepare when Lieutenant Kuchiki entered, her armband in place, her stance and bearing impeccable. "Reporting, Sir." She stated firmly.

Yamamoto nodded. "Lieutenant we have called you here to inform you of a new and temporary assignment."

She blinked and hesitated. "This will be the first you are hearing about it." He said in an apologetic tone. "However given your unique history you were the best and only choice."

"May I ask a question, sir?"

"You may."

"Is this about Ichigo?"

Nothing, nothing at all showed on the Head Captain's face. "Why do you say that?"

He notes the way she moves a hand over her abdomen, the gesture unconscious. She looked to be struggling to decide if she should say anything. "A guess." She said at last

She was clearly lying, but now, of all times, he did not want to antagonize her...after all she was important, more so now than ever before. "He is part of the reason, though not directly." He lied. "It has to do with the incident that first brought him to our world." She winced and he pretended not to notice. "Specifically, how he managed to achieve in three days what most will never achieve in entire lifetimes."

"Bankai." She whispered

"Yes." The Head Captain looked straight at her. "There have been some troubling signs in Hueco Mundo as of late. As far as we can tell, the Hollow's are organized under one of Aizen's old Espada."

Rukia bit back a curse. "Which one?"

"The third, Tia Hannibel, and while we do not know what she has planned afterward, we have decided to strengthen our forces as much as possible." He raised a hand. "I know you and many others have been putting in extra effort this past year and I want to see that increased even more." His old eyes showed only what he wanted her to see as he asked. "Will you help us test that?"

"Of course, it is an order, correct?"

"No, not this. For all who have attained Bankai, save Kurosaki Ichigo, the long process taught them much about their powers. Themselves, and the nature of their Soul, there is a very real chance that this process does stunt one's growth."

Rukia did not so much as flinch. "I am willing."

Yamamoto nodded. "Then go and pack your things, meet me back in two hours." She blinked in confusion. "I will need that time to make sure my wayward students take care of things in my absence." Rukia tried to make a sound, but nothing came out. "What, do you think I am not qualified to help in the process?"

"N-no Head Captain."

"Good, besides I have heard that area has an amazing hot spring and I, for one, could use a...vacation."

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The Central 46 had changed in recent times, the slaughter of the previous leaders by Aizen had been a wake up call for them, as a body. No longer was their place of meeting unguarded, no longer were they dependent upon the Gotei 13 for military support.

In some very real way they had grown in power since the new crop of leaders had joined. They had passed several almost unthinkable actions, and even the military admitted that, given what had happened, it was justified.

They had created their own special force of Shinigami, picked from the cream of the crop at the Academy. Now, while they only had one Captain-level Shinigami at the moment, that would change in a few hundred years.

The second change had been a solid separation of power, the Gotei 13 were only in charge of military matters, all other such as policing, politics, Diplomacy, the common people, all were now under the authority of the Central 46.

The final authority they had granted themselves was the right to watch over their defenders, to make sure that no new Aizen's were fermenting. The Academy now had several courses dedicated to beating such thoughts out of the recruits' heads and as for those who became part of the new Death's Guard, further kido and other methods were utilized to ensure loyalty.

Currently a group of the most powerful members were at the meeting, trying to decide what to do with the latest news. One man sat at the head of the table, young to be in such a position, yet undeniably powerful for having come so far. He was a man born to the great Tsunayashiro Family, the fourth noble house of Soul Society and rumored to have had a major hand in the founding of its current state. No one at the meeting felt comfortable around the man, not with the stories all had heard. But for all that, Tokinada Tsunayashiro was a highly competent man, with ambition and vision that had driven the Central 46 to its new levels of power.

He was a slender man with loose fitting clothing, green hair that fell about his face in an unkempt manner, save for a tight braid along the left side of his head. At his side was his Zanpakuto with a star and square pattern hilt. Of all the people here he seemed the least worried. "We do not know all the facts." He said soothingly. "We only know that a boy, hardly older than a baby by our standards, fought at the side of some Devils. Creatures that, need I remind you, we have not fought in over two thousand years, give or take." He waved a hand. "Even if the worst of the worst has come to pass, we have something he will die for. Something that we can use to get a nice spy in whatever is to come."

"It could." An older man rumbled. "But it could also result in him attacking us and we do not know the loyalty of all the Gotei 13 when it comes to that Ryoka."

That seemed to make Tokinada smile even more. "I would like to see him try, he has no chessmaster to protect him should he try that stunt again. Of course the Head Captain also knows that should it come to that we expect him to deal with it personally." Tokinada noted that it did not seem to occur to the others that such a battle would destroy whatever area it happened in. For his part he only hoped if it did come to that he would get a front row seat. "We need to move on," he gently chided the others, "There is work to do. Need I remind you that we are still not as safe as any of us would like. The Death's Guard is an excellent start, however I think we need to push harder on the Secure Loyalty front."

"The Gotei 13 refuses on principle." A woman noted. "I believe Yamamoto's words were 'It would cause a civil war.'?"

"Yes, yes," He waved a hand, "The current generation is hopeless on that front."

"And too powerful," Another man noted, "Some are so powerful that the measures would not affect them."

Tokinada Tsunayashiro smiled a wicked gleam in his ice-chip-like eyes. "There is a saying in my family, something about an army outways a single person." He leaned forward. "We don't move on the Gotei directly, we do what we are already doing."

"And what is that?"

The man smiled even brighter. "We control the source, of course. The citizens and the academy."

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It was morning by the time Ichigo saw everyone to their rooms, Yourichi had joked about him spending the night in hers, but when he closed the door in her face she had just fallen on the bed and was asleep, almost before her head hit the pillows. Chad was staying in his guest house as most of the rooms were taken. The combined manpower of four Peerages filled up a lot of space, Nel had made a pouting face at him when she learned that Chad was staying in the room. But had turned back into her child form and found her usual spot on his bed. He himself felt exhausted. As far as he could tell only he, the people on guard and one other person were still conscious.

It was that last one that had him worried, and that last one he was making his way too. For when Serafall Leviathan was not taking advantage of the situation to sleep next to her So-tan, you knew something was very wrong.

He could sense her in the baths and so that was the way he walked, quickly noticing that it was getting colder the closer he got...that was not how the baths were supposed to work. He paused as he came face to face with Serafall's Queen. She stood at the door into the bath area and now that he was almost on top of it he could feel her power cloaking, suppressing, diffusing the cold coming from that room. Ichigo felt his heart rate spike as he wondered just how cold it was beyond that door. But if that was a price he had to pay for her, then that was fine, it would be an experience on his part. So he did not say anything to the woman and he allowed Blut to cover his skin in blue lines before he opened the door. All he could see was a world of white, a twisting blizzard of power that seemed to move sluggishly.

Eyes narrowed, he stepped through Beli's barrier and into that storm. He was almost knocked off his feet in the first moment and his body reacted on instinct, the shining blue wings he possessed manifesting and wrapping around him. Oddly, it seemed to be of more help than it should have been. It was a good thing he did not have to see where he was going, he just had to follow Serafall's blazing Soul. He kept an inch above the ground to avoid the near frictionless ice that had formed. His Blut flashed several times as chunks of ice bounced off him. He did not doubt there was a great deal broken in this room. "I should leave," He heard, "But I can't leave, what if they come back and I'm not here?"

Serafall's voice was worrying, so he pushed on. "But if I'm like this I might be the one...no, I would never, I could never." There was a whimper. "So-tan, So-tan please help me." It hurt to hear that, it made him angry at the world. That feeling lit a fire in his core, his Blut seemed to glow even brighter, filling his body with a heat like that of his blazing Soul. He found a shadow in the storm, hardly visible. "No, So-tan can't come, So-tan's so tired, so hurt, I need….I need."

He wrapped his arms around her, almost at once Ice shot up his arms and chest, only to be burned away by his Blut, at least in part. Serafall was just too strong and his Spiritual Power was on its last dregs. "I might not be the best one Serafall, but I am here." That was when something even more odd happened, he could not describe the feeling correctly, but it felt like his Blut went out of his body and into hers. Her shadow lit up with blue in the darkness. There was an odd sound as the spiritual power met and mixed with hers just for a moment, a single moment of disruption. The storm abruptly stopped, ice ringing as it crashed into the tile floor while his Blut returned his body.

He got a good look at Serafall as she was in this moment, the whole of her skin a frostbite blue, her dark hair bleeding white, horns of ice gleaming atop her head. "Shhh," He whispered, as if to a spooked horse, "Levi-tan I am here."

The Maou's whole body trembled, tear drops of ice clattering to the ground. "I didn't want you to see me like this."

"Like I care what you look like right now?" He asked incredulously. "You're in pain, I can't stand that."

"I didn't want you to see this." She whimpered again.

"Levi..." He tightened his grip on her.

"I'm broken...I'm broken Ichigo." She struggled against his grip and would have broken out of it too. But he drew in everything, all the Spiritual Power around this place, where he had been living for so long. From the air around the people who were staying here, people like Orihime, Chad, Yourichi, he drew in all the ambient Spiritual Power. The tips of his hair turned black and he found the strength to hold on.

"I'm not letting you go," he said, the words a vow, "That's a promise. You're not the only one broken."

"Sona," she cried, "So close to losing her, so close to losing you. My heart feels like it is about to explode." He put his hand over her pounding heart, the hand glowed with a deep blue power, hell his whole body was glowing like that. He needed to change what was happening, he was not really helping like this...it took a moment, but he wanted to slap himself, it was so simple.

"Levi-tan you are having a panic attack," Which, if this was the result, was terrifying, "I need you to listen to me."

"I can't, I can't think."

"Levi-tan," he interrupted firmly, "Close your eyes, please." Somehow his words got through and they blinked closed. "Now breathe in while counting to four, hold that for one second, then breath out while counting to four." She didn't quite get that right, but she was not in a good state of mind, at the very least her breathing slowed. "Now focus on me, there is only us here, you and me, our bodies touching, my voice, your voice, focus only on that and keep breathing." Perhaps it said something about his life that being a Doctor's kid was coming in more and more handy as he got older.

"Repeat that in your head, you and me, nothing else, you and me, nothing else." Slowly as he repeated those words he lowered both of them to the tile floor. He almost slipped, but the heat of his Blut melted the coating of ice. He kept repeating the mantra as Serafall's heart began to slow.

"Good," He whispered, "keep breathing, know that right now everyone is safe, especially So-tan." He did not know why he had just defaulted to Sona's nickname, but right now he did not care, "Do you know why she is safe?" He answered that for her. "Because of you Levi-tan, because you are here." The horns of ice cracked and shattered, slipping off her head and to the floor and he shut his mouth and just held her. Watching as the frostbite began to recede from her perfect skin, feeling her heartbeat slow and slow until it felt normal.

He relaxed his grip and she made no move to get away from him this time. Around them he could sense Beli-chan's power begin to flood into the space causing the heat to sharply rise. Without Serafall powering it, the frozen room began to sluff off the sudden winter chill. Below them the water began to heat going from frigid to boiling within seconds then back to their normal temperature.

He felt a gentle hand move over to his, gently removing it from her chest so she could hold it in her hands. The grip was a little tight, but panic attacks could fade slowly and he had no problems waiting. "Ichigo."

"Yes Levi-tan?" He said quietly.

She shuddered when he used that name. "It still hurts, I feel so bad I could throw up."

"You're still having a panic attack, you are calmer, just give it some time." He gently squeezed her hand. "When you showed up, when you split the sky to bring your Peerage to fight, it was that which broke the enemy. Most of us were exhausted and I don't know how long it would have been until one of us made a mistake."

"I should have known something was wrong."

"How? They blocked all communication."

"Just so," She looked down, "I sent her a letter yesterday and sometimes it takes her a little while to answer, but most of the time she is prompt.

"That reminds me, did anyone find the man who did that?"

"We found him," Serafall nodded, "At which point he promptly melted into blood."

"That's not normal, right?"

"No," The Mmaou whispered, "That is old magic, the kind which Beelazub created...mother will know more about it."

"That...does not sound good."

She shook her head. "It means that someone wanted you all to die, someone that is supposed to be on our side." Now that the panic was subsiding, the rage was starting to show again, though it died quickly. There was an exhaustion about her, something that had nothing to do with power or anything physical.

"What do you need from me, Serafall?" He asked. "Everyone always needs something from you, everyone wants something from you. You take the weight of two Worlds upon your shoulders and, despite what you face every day, you remain Serafall."

"Not all the time." She looked down at the layer of water covering the floor.

"True but that is why you have people. You have a Peerage, you have a sister, even on your own, I know you would have come out of this...I'm just glad I got to help you. So, Serafall, what do you need from me, what can I do for you?"

"Well, holding me is a good start." She snuggled against him. "At least until the bath water heats up, I don't feel clean right now."

He nodded. "Then just holding you is all you need?"

"That's not what I said, I want a bath."

It took a few moments before he got it. "Oh."

Serafall shivered against him. "I feel so cold on the inside, it hurts a little to keep that part of me from clawing its way out...Perhaps heat would help...at least I hope."

He could sense that, sense the cold at the core of her power, her Soul roiling about like a maelstrom of world ending cold, of an ice age held at bay because this woman was just that strong. Even during the midst of her panic, she had not done anything outside of a room, she had held it in as best she could. "I will do that." He fought back a chuckle. "I helped my Mom bathe the little ones, so this should not be too much of a stretch."

"What part of me is little?" The barest hint of her normal good humor showing for just a second.

"Well, if you want me to compare cup sizes..."

She cut him off with a light blow to his belly. "Jerk."

"You asked." He gasped out.

"Hmmm, you're supposed to say something nice, like how little my belly is, or something."

Ichigo made a thoughtful sound and reached a hand down to carass that part of her, making the girl stiffen in surprise. "You're right, it's perfectly smooth and soft. I like it."

"I think I might have done a good job in teaching you how to touch at least."

"And thank you for that Levi-tan." He reached a hand into the bath water, it had just returned to its normal temperature. "Looks like it is ready, so tell me what to do, Levi-tan, let someone else do the work."

"Ok," she said after a moment, "Then help me get out of these wet clothes...they are uncomfortable."

"Yes." Ichigo replied, but before he let go he hugged her tighter against him. "I love you Serafall, now and always, no matter what happens."

There was a quiver in her voice, a choked moment, a half suppressed sob of emotion. "I love you too...Ichigo."

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Well that is another forty pages thrown out into the void, I could have done this in two chapters but everything that was happening kind of belonged together.

So anyway Soul Society is starting to make its move, those who have read or at least know of the Don't Fear Your Own World will know they have seen the villain from the soul society side. Something I have taken a decent chunk of inspiration from though as you can tell with my version of Soul Society's past its not quite the same. Anyway it's a very good story.

Now I know people will be a little disappointed that dear old daddy and friends did not hear about their little boy getting himself a whole Harem for his very own. But I really wanted that to happen when everyone was there to….enjoy the moment. So I just took the chance to make it clear that while they can with a little effort accept he managed to stumble into a girlfriend. Butttttttt as for anything else well….. =).

Also four a continuation of what happened to Ichigo and Serafall, it has been posed on AO3 (An Archive of our Own) under Fanoby913.

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Comments of the Week

Fullmetel11791

You know, we see multiple times throughout the Bleach storyline that Ichigo is very uncomfortable with nudity and sexuality in general. And i think you're having that come across fine as far as the dxd thots are concerned. But this whole "i don't give a shit if the entire school sees me naked" thing goes completely against that part of his character and feels very forced.

Sure, in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal compared to the winter war. But that doesnt mean its not still a big deal in general, especially to a self conscious and private guy like Ichigo. Hell, the fact that he's a war veteran should have him valuing his privacy even more than normal.

I don't know about that, Ichigo seemed pretty chill when he was in the hotsprings at the Soul Palace. But as to your second point which might answer the first, my family has quite a few people in the military. And the effects I have observed can go the way you describe, however they can also go the opposite, human minds are weird little things. And as to your last comment on Spy cameras, I was wrong about that, however the misconception came from the fact that such things are hardly ever prosecuted as they are considered minor activities though I do think some of the people in the government are working to amend that.

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Perseus Peverell

The devil faction is becoming too powerful, it was already lopsided with Sirzechs and Ajuka but now with Sona, Rias and Ichigo it is somewhat boring and Kokabiels death was unsatisfactory.

Him dying because someone awakened a new power. This was a guy who fought in the great war.

I did not like the anime iteration with Vali defeating him, at least it was believable with Vali halving his power, but here, it was almost like a rehash of Ichigo's rage mode vs Ulquiorra.

Writing is great but the plot is going nowhere, especially Ichigo's levels. Rias and Sona in canon are nowhere near the top 1000's here you have almost moved them into the top 100's.

I have moved there power levels yes and I feel like I should point out that it took all of them to beat Kokabiel. Also I have powered up the Angelic faction somewhat in this fic, plus the devils are not a fully unified force.

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TheNecromancer0

Is it bad I want Serafall and Sona to Kiss Ichigo leaving Yoruichi wondering "What the ACTUAL FUCK?!"

Yes it is you horrible person, why in the world would Ichigo give his teacher such a heartattack and sense of pride at the same time?

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Zathol

Good way to end a fight for your life. Surrounded by friends and lovers just happy everything went as good as it could have. Made Kokabiel actually a challenge worth his wings as well. Everyone performed pretty well and fought there hardest. Good tactics to for the situation. I couldn't help but think Saji is going to be pretty negative for not being there.

Cool uses for both Rias and Sona's powers. Nel finally got to show her stuff to and fight a very impressive human. Oh they grow up so fast don't they!

Can't wait to see how they all take Ichigo literally having more then one lover, or a lover at all. Will Koenko feel territorial I wonder if Yoruichi's cat like traits show or maybe some friendly cat bonding over there favorite strawberry. Oh I hope Isshin brought the mom poster so everyone can see how proud they are of Ichigo!

You can expect more interaction between Koneko and Yourichi in the next chapter, this one did not feel like the time for it.

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SomethingAncient

This chapter especially. I'm a bit confused as to why Ichigo split his zanpakuto in 2 for a while when (if I remember correctly) he still doesn't know his hollow is his true zanpakuto.

Ichigo seemed fairly short on energy considering how much he does have (He fought every battle in Hueco Mundo on one charge, so to speak

When you say 70 pages, what does that translate to in word count?

Since Orihime is in the harem, why not Yoruichi? Or Tatsuki?

Ichigo's 'Mugetsu' form did NOT convert his spiritual enery to pure physical strength

I'm really hoping that black hair wasn't Ichigo getting close to Mugetsu-level power, because if that was the case

Sry I had to condense you review in questions but do know I read it all.

is an ability of his Zanpakuto now, it can shift into a bow, dual swords based on Kanshou and Bakuya, and his normal Katana.

2. He did have breathing space in between his battles as evidenced by how his clothing regenerated a few times. Since his clothing was a sign of how much power he had at once. Plus that one battle with Grimjow took him almost down to nothing.

3. Around 17,000 words give our take 1,000.

4. Well when it comes to Yourichi she seems to be a reviewer fan favorite so while my original plans did not include her, I am reviewing those and seeing if perhaps she can...but no promises yet I am just thinking about it. Tatsuki is a different story, if anything she seems like the sane man of the group and the only way I can think of her somehow joining is because of Orihime not Ichigo. So probably not, and she was not in my original plans.

5.I know this, but his Mugetsu form did make him stronger just not how Aizen thought it did..

6. The answer to that is no, the black tips on his hair was his soul drawing out a fraction of that power...with a little help from a god who shall remain nameless.

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HollowIchigo12

Everyone will have trouble believing that Ichigo now has a harem and the looks on their faces as the reality sets in is going to be hilarious.

On a side note I can see one of the first things Ichigo might ask Kisuke about is if has something like brain bleach so he can get rid of the image of his parents having sex and his own birth.

Was Sona's water armor form based on Noelle's water Valkyrie armor from Black Clover.

The guy at the 12th division must be really contemplating taking a vacation right now.

Cardinal Vasco using breathing techniques based on Demon Slayers techniques and having them be from heaven was a nice touch.

Like the one above I had to break this down because it was long but do know I read it all.

I truly hope I can do that scene justice.

The man would laugh at him and even if he did have some he would never give it to Poor Ichigo, the memory is just too funny.

Yes it was, though with my own little take on it.\

What are you talking about? He does not get vacation, he stays at that desk 'till he dies.

Thank you, I had a lot of fun messing around with that and found it really helped my battle flow better.

Comment of the Week

HolyKnight5

Azazel it's going to be head hitting the desk thoroughly.

Compared to Canon, this it was an unmitigated clusterf#kk that not only stained the reputation of Grigori, but weakened them heavily in image, as one of their most War mongering veterans and his Cadre were nearly slaughtered to a man by ROOKIE Devil Peerages...

The Church is also splattered, as Vasco Strada was near slain by these same "ROOKIES" for not talk of being under geass to murder Asia Argento... Bricks will be shat, and more than one Bishop or higher will commit suicide once the news are heard by the rather angered Michael and Gabriel…

I got a laugh out of this, and I think this is the fastest and most accurate summation of one of my seventy page chapters.