At the beginning of the present world, everything existed upon a single plane of reality. The living coexisted with the dead, and hell and the Soul Society never existed. Instead, everything was centered around a single concept known as balance.

Balance was everything, centered around three main existences that lived since the beginning of all: The living, the dead, and Hollows. These three existences lived in equilibrium before the first Hollows became Menos and began devouring the souls of the living and the dead.

The order was disrupted, and in response, the being known as the Soul King was created to eliminate the Hollows. However, the Soul King was too strong, too efficient. The number of Hollows dwindled and again the balance was lost. Then came the emergence of the Five Noble Houses in order to solve this issue.

The Kuchiki Clan. The Shihoin Clan. The Tsunayashiro Clan. The Shiba Clan And an unnamed Fifth Clan. They all banded together.

Justification. Peace. Order. Those were the issues that the Five Noble Clans sought to achieve, and yet all had varying methods to achieve the goal. Only the Shiba opted for the method or purification while the rest decided on radical means, the Tsunayashiro clan's method eventually decided upon.

Stop the Soul King from killing all the Hollows by sealing him away and using the Soul King's vast power to maintain the state of a new world and system. The plan brought about the desired peace, yet at what cost?

It was a prosperity born from the enslavement of another. No one was right, but no one was wrong either. Did the ends justify the means? The Shiba felt conflicted on the issue. They were the only Noble Clan to disagree with the Tsunayashiro.

After all, the Shiba clan accepted a fundamental truth that no other clan agreed with: Hollows have hearts that feel, experience, and react to the joy's and sorrows of the world much like all of the planet's denizens.

The times were quickly changing over the years, and the order brought upon by the enforcement of the Five Noble Clans was now reaching a breaking point.

Yet only three would be able to see the situation for what it was in the future.

A battle of ideals.


This was not how it was supposed to be.

His name was Ichibe Hyosube, the longest living Shinigami in all of history. In his life, he'd seen and heard of many things including the tragic history of the Soul King.

Ichibe sighed while thinking to himself. In life, there were such things known as necessary evils. People don't speak of them, but at the same time, it didn't mean that they didn't happen. Similarly, if one side viewed a situation as necessary for the good of all, then the other most definitely viewed the actions with unconcealed contempt.

Were the events of the past finally catching up to the present?

Ichibe didn't know, but at the same time, he'd never heard of a Hollow possessing such power that the Court-Guard Squads could not handle the situation. Moreover, he had the vague premonition that the war of a thousand years prior had not yet ended.

This wasn't good. The entire situation wasn't good.

He was in the Seireitei moving on his own while his fellow comrades of the Zero Squad had decided to meet with familiar faces and visit old locations.

Ichibe was drawing attention wherever he went, but that was because he allowed it. That and he wasn't exactly wearing traditional Shinigami attire nor a standard Captain's Haori. Instead, Ichibe had large prayer beads around his bearded neck and covered most of his body in a white Haori with the symbol of the winter daphne.

He was on his way to a meeting with Head-Captain Yamamoto, but he had decided to take the time to look around the changes in the Seireitei on the way. A finger moved to scratch his bald head before pausing as he sighed.

In front of him was an abandoned complex that had previously served as the main branch house of one of the Soul Society's most prestigious families. If there was any clan among the Five Noble Families that had any chance of changing the situation for what it already was, then it was the Shiba.

Hope lied in the Shiba Clan.

Yet as if to extinguish all hope, the Shiba Clan had been reduced to only a scant few. The last that Ichibe had heard, there were only two younger members of the clan remaining who had no deeper knowledge about the prestige of their ancestor. Of course, he knew one of the remaining two because they used Kukaku Shiba's firework canon as a means to return to the Soul King's palace.

He digressed. There was nothing that he could really do about the situation anyway. A pity.

Ichibe took in a breath and began to consider his options. If a Hollow was strong enough to subdue the entirety of the Court-Guard Squads, it would be up to the Zero Division to eliminate such an obstacle. After all, the power was enough to reach the Soul King and he'd verified this for himself.

In the battle of the Fake Karakura town, before the planar passageway had been destroyed, Ichibe and the other members of the Zero Squad felt a strength similar to their own. It was hard for them to believe at first, but the urgent requests for back from the Seireitei all but cemented their conclusions.

The Hollow would be a formidable enemy. What other surprises did life have in store? The upbeat expression on his face momentarily dimmed as his mind began to calculate whether or not his team would suffer any losses.

No. He shouldn't think about such an outcome until it was the worst-case scenario. What he had to trouble himself with now, was the premonition that Yhwach, Lord of the Quincy may still be around.

Ichibe hadn't reported it to Yamamoto, but in the time that the Zero Squad had been travelling to the dimension of the Fake Karakura town, they'd discovered a familiar power nearby observing.

It was spiritual energy similar to that of the Soul King. Being as the Soul King himself was currently sealed, the spiritual energy spying on the battle of the Fake Karakura town could only belong to one.

The future was not looking good. It was time to create countermeasures.

Deciding that he'd wandered enough, Ichibe turned to leave the abandoned Shiba compound until he realized that the building wasn't quite as abandoned as he'd thought. Several people were actually inside the compound which was odd since Kukaku had long since moved with her younger brother out of the Seiretei.

No one, not even ranked Shinigami could lightly trespass into the property of one of the Seireitei's Five Noble Clans. Worse, it was the Shiba clan of all clans. The one clan that Ichibe felt had any real chance in solving the dispute between the Quincy, the Soul King, and all the involved parties simply because they'd never advocated for the incarceration of the Soul King. It showed in the fact that Yhwach had not targeted members of the Shiba clan with unbridled ferocity, but had killed them out of necessity.

Wondering what kind of individuals would be audacious enough o trespass into Shiba territory, Ichibe decided to investigate. What he never expected to encounter however, was not only Kukaku and Ganju Shiba, but Isshin Shiba as well as another rave-haired girl.

From the black-haired girl, Ichibe could feel the blood of the Shiba Clan running through her veins.

The Shiba Clan wasn't dead, but still growing? Isshin Shiba was also still alive?

A remarkable discovery. So much so that Ichibe decided to forgo his meeting with Head-Captain Yamamoto.

As much as Ichibe wanted to make his presence known in order to introduce himself, he realized that the family was actually in the middle of an argument.

"I said I'm going!" The tone in Kukaku's voice brooked no room for debate. "If Kisuke can open a portal to Hueco Mundo then I'm coming! What do you mean I'm too weak? Your too weak and you're still going."

Isshin gritted his teeth. "Kukaku, now isn't the time. At least I'm captain level and have some certainty of success."

Kukaku glared. "You know as well as I do that you stand no chance against that monster, the Vasto of White. Your chances are as good as mine if you encounter him!"

Isshin wouldn't budge on the issue. "Even still, Captain Level can elevate the chances of escape from any other hollow."

"Then why can't I come?" Karin, the raven-haired girl decided to interject moodily. "I'm just as strong as you damn goat-face."

"All the more reason for you not to come. I have to save Ichigo and your mother," Isshin balled his hands into fists. "I also have to look for Kaien and I don't want to have to worry about you too as well. That goes for all of you here."

Kukaku smashed her wooden fist onto a table and shattered it into pieces. Ganju who was sitting behind her back pedalled in order to not get hit by any flying splinters.

"You fucking hypocrite!" Kukaku pointed a finger at Isshin, rage in her eyes. "Worry? What do you mean worry? You just don't want any of us to come because you're thinking about sacrificing yourself if the situation calls for it! Well, if you can risk your life then why can't we!"

Ichibe watched the head strong nature of the Shiba clan in full display, but continued to keep his presence concealed. It was a trivial matter for someone of his skill level.

A vein popped over Isshin's forehead. "Listen Kukaku, I am the oldest living member of the Shiba clan and have the most right to claim my seat as head of the family. Please, just listen to what I'm saying. I don't want to lose anyone else so stay here and watch after Karin, and that's final. Kisuke will be done with the preparations soon enough."

"Damned old man," Kukaku scowled gnashing her teeth together. "What gives you the right to say that I can't go help my big brother?" A lump formed in Kukaku's throat which she struggled to swallow down as her emotions ran high. "He'd always been there for me, for us," she gestured to Ganju and herself. "Now when big brother Kaien needs us the most, you're telling us that we can't go help him!?"

"…" Isshin had no response. He could see that if he pushed the issue any longer, Kukaku was going to explode, her eyes all but watering at this point.

"Dad," Karin could keep silent no longer. She didn't even bother to call her father goat-face. "I want to save mom and Ichigo too. As much as you want to protect us, it hurts more if I lose you too. Yuzu needs you, needs us. It may be more dangerous for me if I go with you, but two is always better than one when searching. Three when you count Kukaku. Please."

Isshin was hesitation, yet the final straw forced him to concede.

"You think you're the only one with connections?" Kukaku glowered. "I can cash in on my favour from Yoruichi to force Kisuke to cooperate. If you won't take us, then we'll go on our own!"

Hook, line, and sinker. As dangerous as Isshin thought it would be for Karin and Kukaku to come with him, it was even more dangerous for them to wander off on their own.

"Fine," Isshin was not happy. Far from it, the worry was killing him, but there was nothing that he felt that he could do.

Watching from the shadows, Ichibe felt like he'd seen enough. Interesting. Interesting indeed. The strength of spirit that existed within the Shiba clan was still burning strong.

Ichibe stepped out and made his presence known, causing everyone in the room to face him.

"Why hello there," Ichibe greeted boisterously. "Its been quite a long time hasn't it, Kukaku, Isshin, Ganju. It would seem that there are even new additions to the family." Ichibe stared at Karin before moving onto the matter at hand. "So, I've heard you're all planning to do something dangerous, would you mind if I sent a member of the Zero Squad along to help?"

Isshin was floored by the proposal. Everyone in the room who knew Ichibe and the name of the Zero Squad was floored.

For Ichibe, his intentions were his own. How could he let the blood of the Shiba expose themselves to danger and die out? Not when hope still remained.

The only element left undecided now was a matter that had plagued Ichibe's mind since its creation.

Hueco Mundo.


In the moment that Shirou had first been pulled into the dark fissure created by the tainted Grail, he realized that he'd been thinking about a single desire as his life flashed before his eyes.

He'd wanted to be a Hero.

It was a harmless wish. Something that shouldn't have resulted in anything substantial, and yet, it was the beginning of everything: A wish born from want or desire. That was all that the tainted grail ever needed to expel all the energy that it had gathered up from the absorption of Seven Servants and actualize its purpose.

Past memories clashed with present memories, creating a jarring experience that had Shirou inwardly wincing in discomfort. He'd been the Vasto of White for years, neither knowing who he was, nor wishing to seek out any real answers until the people that came into his new life inadvertently roused the sleeper within.

Everything led to the present moment. The moment where everything about himself became clear. However, just because he remembered didn't mean that he could abandon those that had grown close to him. In fact, now more than ever, his desire to protect was beyond measure.

With a body of steel and blood of fire, he felt stronger than he had ever been before. Back in the world of the living in his home world, he'd possessed many limitations and stunting factors that often made him the subject of ridicule or disregard. He was an underdog, yet he'd always pulled through with much difficulty.

Everything had changed. In the new world that he'd found himself within, the very definition of strength, was spirit, and spirit was something that he'd never lacked; rather, his spirit had always been his strongest aspect.

A Hill of Swords.

An inner reality, an inner spirit, made real.

This power, his very being, was what was going to enable him to shield the innocent and those that he cared about from all harm. There was no other way about it. That was who he was and who he would always be.

An Ally of Justice.

However, in an ironic twist of fate, he'd ended up becoming the Lord of Hollows after various events. He didn't care. In fact, he embraced it after realizing the situation that the Hollows were going through. Hell, he'd even sacrificed a part of his very being in order to safeguard their prosperity and create a world solely for them. For Coyote and for every Hollow who was suffering in the Human World.

Now that he'd gotten his state of self back, he had been ready to face any form of danger for those that he cherished and wished to protect. Fighting, bloodshed, hate, animosity of any sort, but what sort of situation was this? He couldn't even begin to understand how to combat the current issue.

Throw himself at it? Suicide.

Attack? Against his morals.

Endure? His mind wouldn't be able to take it.

Run? Not happening unless he wanted more trouble.

Beads of sweat formed over his brow as he quickly came to terms with the fact that he'd actually experienced similar situations throughout the entirety of his mortal life before he'd been affected by a tainted grail. It was the very bane of his existence, something that he found secretly endearing, but at the same time unbearable because of his personality.

Women.

He didn't like seeing friends fight. In fact, he hated it. It was even more so when the object of a quarrel had to do with himself and he didn't even know why half of the time. It made him feel helpless and constricted.

Now, what was he supposed to do here?

It was a Mexican standoff with Coyote standing by his side and staring flatly across at Harribel, Apacci, Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, and Nel. The air was ambiguous, but if there was one defining factor that was of the most concern, it would be the tension permeating outwards. It was a mix of emotions ranging from denial, stubbornness, uncertainty, and what looked to be ill-concealed yearning. In fact, the Harribel and the others themselves probably didn't even fully understand what they were feeling. After all, even if Hollows had the ability to experience emotion, it didn't mean that they could understand every new emotion that they felt. Things like anger, greed, battle lust, and decisiveness were almost inherent for all Hollows, but emotions such as Love, Compassion, Empathy, Affection, and Devotion? No way. They weren't sentiments ordinarily felt by Hollows.

The situation was like a ticking time bomb. More so because the individuals feeling such varying emotions happened to be former Vasto Lorde-Class Hollows. All of them well acquainted with Shirou and clueless about what to do about such budding feelings.

The answer was evident. Violence. It was the classical Hollow maneuver. If one didn't like something, then destroy it. If seeing another woman beside a male 'friend' (Honestly, they weren't being true to themselves with that term, but no matter) was aggravating, then why hold themselves back?

The strongest should have the right to decide everything, only that everyone present knew who that strongest woman was. There was no use in fighting because they already knew who would come out on top. That didn't mean that they'd just stand down though. Emotions don't go away. They will always remain even after the passage of time, waiting to be recalled.

Emotions make people do stupid things. Therefore, even if Harribel and the others knew that they were glaring at a stronger peer, they had no regrets and no hesitation.

Coyote stared back blankly while feeling the grudgingly stares congregate on her.

Standing at the side, Shirou felt his mouth dry. Past experience warned him that speaking would only make the situation worse. What he had to do was bide his time and wait for an appropriate opportunity to intervene, and by God did he feel like he was in the toughest battle of his present life.

"Who are you?" Apacci was the first to press, expression twisted into a scowl as she pointed irritably with a finger. The question was one that was echoed by everyone other than Shirou.

Coyote didn't seem to understand the scathing tone in Apacci's voice because just the experience of talking with someone other than Shirou was novel to her. "Coyote," she said, sounding almost uncertain. "Coyote Gingerbuck. You are Apacci?"

Coyote frowned while digging through the memories of Lilynette and Starrk in her mind and turning her attention away from Apacci and towards everyone else.

"Mila Rose," she said first, startling the caramel-skinned woman with her arms crossed to the point that she became speechless. This wasn't even the end of the surprises.

Coyote shifted her attention with a nod.

"Sung-Sun."

Widened eyes and a white sleeve carefully shifted to cover the bottom half of a face.

"Lady Harribel."

A stoic expression upon a fierce yet regal visage softened in bewilderment.

"Big Sister Nel."

Warm and inviting eyes blinked upon a face framed by emerald-coloured hair.

Meanwhile, Coyote felt like something had changed in the air. The tension was fading, replaced instead by a vague sense of stunning realization. Although the words that Coyote had said sounded foreign to her lips, the familiarity in the way that she spoke them was not lost on Harribel and the rest.

"Lilynette?" Apacci frowned. "The brat? No Starrk?" The drawl of Coyote's voice reminded everyone too much of the lazy ass who always seemed to find the time to nap at his leisure.

Hearing the names, Coyote remained detached. "Coyote," she repeated again. Although it wasn't wrong to call her Starrk or Lilynette because she was basically them, she still had her own identity to uphold.

No one else bought Coyote's words. Now that they were scrutinizing her, they took notice of all the minor details that they'd neglected in their emotional state. Grey jacket, painted bone helmet covering an eye, the angular face, the baby cheeks, everything pointed to Starrk and Lilynette.

Unknowingly, a feeling of relief flooded through Harribel and the other women's minds before they turned to look at Shirou. "What's going on?" They finally deigned to ask him.

Shirou for his part would not miss the opportunity to explain things. After all, it was swiftly closing. He could see the way that Coyote's facial features were twisting into disgruntlement. More than likely, she was going to insist that she was 'Coyote' and not the same people that Harribel and the others knew. Of course, she was in her right to do so, but Shirou had a gut feeling that Coyote would resort to the bluntest means possible to get her point across.

The situation required finesse, not brute force.

"About that," Shirou placed a hand on Coyote's shoulder and abruptly stopped her from opening her mouth to respond. "It's complicated, but we've known each other for a long time."

"Family," Coyote nodded her head strongly.

For a moment, a flicker of reminiscence regarding simpler times appeared in Shirou's mind before he found his lips curving upwards. "Yeah, we're family," he said, prompting Coyote's cheeks to flush with a wave of warmth.

She tilted her chin and glanced away, unwilling to let others see her in her present state. At any other time, she would have no trouble keeping her expression neutral, but it had been so long since she'd felt Shirou's company that it was hard to act indifferent when clearly, she wasn't. Her actions caused Shirou to sigh in relief. She wouldn't be arguing with Harribel and the others anytime soon.

"Well, yeah we already knew that Starrk and Lilynette were with you the longest. Of course, they must be 'family' to you," Nel interjected.

Shirou felt that there was something there in Nel's statement that had a different meaning, but he didn't pursue the matter.

"What we were asking you to explain was what happened to them?" Harribel said bluntly.

More specifically, Harribel referring to the fact that Starrk and Lilynette had undergone a Second Release. This meant to say, that in the minds of Harribel and the rest, Coyote was just the form that Starrk and Lilynette took after obtaining a greater power. Power that they themselves should be able to obtain somehow.

This was going to be a difficult concept to explain, Shirou quickly realized. Different from all of the other Arrancar, Coyote wasn't in the form of a Second Release, but her 'original' form.

"It's complicated," Shirou deflected the issue. "What matters are the changes going forward. I will protect you all. Everything. I promise," he said, missing the way everyone else stood rooted in place in stunned silence.

What was this feeling? This beating in their chests? This budding sensation like butterflies in their stomach? No, it didn't matter. They could think about it later. What mattered now was something more important.

"How long do you intend to keep up that form?" Nel asked while looking at Coyote. "The others can't even draw near."

The pressure that Coyote was releasing was stifling even alongside her fellow Vasto Lorde level Arrancar. This was to say, that any weaker individuals in the vicinity couldn't even draw close. The nearest Hollows were staring curiously from a distance of over a hundred meters away just to avoid suffering under Coyote's spiritual pressure.

It was definitely a problem for the weaker individuals residing within the lands of the Vasto of White; however, Coyote seemed to have long since figured out a method to ease the pressure. She closed her eyes and began to violently diffuse her power out and directly separate it from herself.

Two spiritual bodies were soon formed hovering on either side of Coyote. One grew larger and lankier than Coyote herself, while the other became child-sized. Over time, Starrk and Lilynette's distinct features became apparent before Starrk just lazily sprawled onto the ground. Lilynette in comparison was staring at herself and then back to Coyote like she couldn't understand what was going on. She didn't need to. She took one look at Coyote, and then one look at Shirou, and then put aside all other concerns in order to stick herself around Shirou's neck.

Family. They'd been family since the beginning. "You're not allowed to leave again!" She said, her voice trembling. Both she and Starrk had felt the very same emotions as Coyote did. The only difference was that Lilynette was the vocal aspect of Coyote.

Although Starrk wasn't saying anything while sprawled on the ground, his sentiments were already clear let alone Coyote who walked up to Lilynette grabbed her by the helmet, and then tossed her aside.

"Hey!" Lilynette yelled in outrage before her words left her entirely.

Unaccustomedly, Coyote was trying to imitate Lilynette's earlier actions, much to the shock and fury of everyone. She wrapped her arms around Shirou's neck before then raising her legs in an attempt to hang off of him in 'joy?' She didn't really know, but she'd felt envy stir when watching Lilynette and decided to do it herself, only that she quickly came to a problem.

"Why can't you be taller?" She bluntly asked. It was posed as a question, but in truth it sounded more like a demand.

Shirou had no response, yet the others did.

If before, Nel and the rest could attribute Coyote as Lilynette and Starrk, now it was evident that Coyote was a separate entity herself. A rival woman that had literally just thrown herself over the one ignorant man that many in Hueco Mundo were secretly vying for. Only that they just didn't know that they were doing so yet.

Surges of spiritual energy threatened to level everything in the area before Shirou finally decided that he'd had enough. "Stop! What's the point in fighting?"

Wrong words.

Several pairs of eyes narrowed as the primal urge to beat back competition only continued to grow. Grimmjow and the other Vasto Lorde class Arrancar in the distance suddenly abandoned all plans of barging in on Shirou for a fight. They loved battle, but it didn't mean that they were suicidal.

Women could be vicious when they set aside all else and focused on eliminating a target.

"Okay enough!" Shirou couldn't take it anymore. His voice carried no room for agreement, but at the same time, he was feeling helpless. Fortunately, the others decided to stop.

Harribel and the others stared across at each other before withdrawing their spiritual energy. Be that as it may, a silent message lingered in the air with a meaning that only women seemed to know.

This wasn't over.

Shirou was just glad that the current crisis was averted. In fact, he envied the way that Starrk had already started snoring amidst everything.

"Coyote," he called out first.

She glanced up at him in silence, not knowing what to say, but it wasn't necessary. Shirou wasn't expecting her to say anything to begin with. From now on, Coyote's life was changed. She didn't have to be weary of everyone nor did she have to live in constant worry.

He smiled reminiscently. "You're not alone anymore," he told her, causing her to widen her eyes and finally take a look around her and not just at him.

The other Hollows and Arrancar, they were all waiting for her. They…weren't afraid.

The realization was met not with happiness or satisfaction, but jarring disbelief followed by silence. She couldn't believe it. It wasn't real, yet Shirou's gentle push on her back caused her to realize that she wasn't dreaming.

Tentatively, hesitantly, she began to step forward towards the others staring curiously at her.

Good. This was how it should be. Shirou smiled before making himself small and trying to walk away with as little attention as possible. This wasn't his moment to ruin by sticking around and making others uncomfortable. His presence alone caused many to stand straight in admiration. There was no way that Coyote could strike any kind of conversation in that kind of environment, especially because of how stunted she was with social interaction. If not for Lilynette pulling Coyote along, she probably wouldn't have even begun walking forward.

Well, he'd done his part. He and Coyote could catch up later. Right now, it was more important for Coyote to get to know everyone else.

He turned around and willed his spiritual energy to his legs in order to leap off. However, he never got the chance because someone had grabbed his arm, evidently knowing his intentions from the beginning.

He looked up in surprise, only to see Coyote shifting her grip on his arm and grabbing his hand. "Together," she said sternly.

Not to be out done, Harribel took his other hand while an exasperated Nel pushed him from the back.

"C'mon," Nel urged. "You can't expect everyone to relax while the Lord of Hollows himself runs away on his lonesome, now can you? Look everyone's waiting."

Nel was right.

Glancing in the distance, Shirou could see all of the Hollows and Arrancar that had helped him in the battle of the Fake Karakura town looking at him with earnesty. There were even some familiar faces that he'd not seen in over a week.

"I apologize for not being able to accompany you in the previous war effort!" Brans bowed his head lowly as Shirou approached with Harribel and the others. Ever devoted and loyal, Brans still had injuries over his body and he was apologizing for not being around for a fight. What a guy.

Scanning around him, Shirou soon sighed. Like he'd expected, his presence alone was causing everyone he didn't personally know too well to stand at attention in order to not embarrass themselves.

He looked to Coyote who was having trouble striking up any kind of conversation.

Was it really right for him to be here?

Enough. Stop.

He'd think about such things later. For now, he could see that it was more important to cherish the sentiments of everyone else around him. Now that he thought about it, knowing Coyote, she'd probably ditch everyone else and follow him had he actually left. Well, it's a good thing that he hadn't.

Screw everything. He'd deal with tougher issues later. Right now, everyone had earned a short respite to relax.

"I call the kitchen," he said abruptly. "Can't have a celebration without food."

Suddenly Coyote's expression brightened up significantly while the rest stared on in confusion at his words.

A kitchen? What the hell was that?

Everyone's expressions seemed to say the same thing, but Shirou remained unperturbed. Instead, he opened up a Garganta straight into the human world in search of an appropriate unoccupied kitchen space.

"Don't worry," he said as he stepped into his created Garganta. "I'll be back after making some food."

Again, only Coyote seemed excited. The rest remained perplexed as Shirou left.

Food? Since when did hollows need food?

The question was on everyone's mind.


Food as it would turn out was the one method that Shirou actually had in order to distract Coyote and pretty much everyone else that had been in the previous gathering. It was to the point that no one had noticed him sneak out after an hour or two of relaxing with everyone else.

Hamburgers could do that. Especially when no Hollow had ever tasted them before.

Soon enough, he found himself alone. He needed time to think and understand the changes that had occurred to him now that he'd reacquired his memories. It was a topic that he did not wish to discuss with Aizen or anyone else whose motives were questionable. He had to decide for himself.

At this point, all that he really knew was that he wanted to protect everyone. To do that, he was reviewing everything that he knew about the current world. Aizen was hell bent on reaching the Soul King, and it wasn't until recently that the reason was explained to him in passing.

The world that he presently lived in was a world created by a system of enslavement. Aizen had seen through the world for what it was and sought to change it with sheer overwhelming power. In truth, Shirou had seen no reason to continue helping Aizen there and then; however, everything changed when Aizen explained the one-sidedness of the current system.

Hollows would never know peace. In fact, all Shinigami were told to kill and purify them on sight just to have their souls reincarnated within the Soul Society where they in turn become Shinigami given enough spiritual aptitude.

Hollows were nothing more than monsters to be slaughtered and their soul essences renewed for the Soul Society's gain. This was the one point that grudgingly made him understand where his opinion stood with the current world.

He'd change everything. This system and its sheer inability to see the good in others and segregate them to a life of constant violence.

Aizen had his approach, and Shirou himself decided to opt on his own.

The time was now, the pieces coming together one by one: Hollows, Shinigami, and now an unknown force hiding in the shadows.

At the end of it all, he'd make sure to create an ending where he could save everyone. Better yet, he knew now that it was a duty that he wouldn't have to shoulder alone. He glanced up to where he'd left Coyote and the others before turning his attention towards his nearby surroundings. No, not at his surroundings, but at those whose blurred figures loomed around him.

He'd first seen them within the dreamscape of his inner world. Specters whose appearance he could not see in his inability to even understand himself. No longer.

He'd already found his missing memories.

The blurred forms gradually cleared into distinct outlines.

Pauldrons, war plumes, armours, and gauntlets festooned upon immortalized figures manifested one by one. With swords raised high, spears pointed forward, and weapons at the ready, a vast army of over a thousand strong manifested within his sight, unseen by all aside from himself.

"So, you've awakened?"

The voice was echoed by thousands, creating a reverberating effect that stretched on for miles and contrasted by the steady rhythm of thumping war banners held aloft by large polearms.

"Long have we waited."

The army stepped forward across the white desert, the spiritual energy in the air shifting into a storm.

"Long have we desired our voices heard."

The sands began to swirl and drift like ashes in the wind.

"Long have we waited for our duties to be fulfilled."

Everything stopped, replaced instead by a growing pressure.

"Slumbering King."

Every figure stopped in front of Shirou who finally saw them for what they were and what they represented. No longer would he be lost or would he forget.

He was who he was. Steel stronger than hardship. Steel stronger than time. The forge rekindled. The root of all his power. His greatest Strength.

"The armoury stands at the ready."

An Unlimited Blade Works.

Sword and Soul as one.


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