Author Notes: The first half of the chapter focuses on Isshin coming to terms he was a horrible manipulator while showcasing his abilities that parallel Tōshirō's as well as demonstrating why Getsuga Tenshō was a shared technique Ichigo and himself shared.
The last part of the chapter is a wham moment that alters the context of Ichigo's Zangetsu even further.
Chapter 18: The Fallen Star
Three Nights Prior to the 2nd Great Quincy War
A young Isshin had been slapped by his father, Ichisan for questioning him as Ichiyon left the house.
"We were cheated out of our deal and cursed for our folly. This is our way to getting back at the man's son who turned on us. He's got this. He has the clan's sword, the invincible Tengagetsu (Heaven Moon Fang). He can't fail.," said the man.
Isshin however, was more concerned for Ichiyon and if the planned assassination might backfire.
Three Days into the 2nd Quincy War
Isshin looked on as his older brother was buried, followed shortly by his other brother and father who died at the hands of the Quincy invaders. The event apparently occurred when Ichiyon had apparently made a murder attempt on a unique variant of Quincy race. Following the deaths of their leader, their more aggressive relatives, with ideology and powers more familiar to the Soul Society, started on an attack, separate from Yhwach's attack 800 years earlier, in order to avenge them.
Whether the attempt was a plow to twist Ichiyon's own assassination attempt into a catalyst for a war was unknown. What was known was that Isshin was going to become a Captain at a young age, having learned Bankai with his father's training. However, his thoughts were squared on avenging his family. He'd play along with the War, but would eventually get an attempt on Ashiyaku.
A Few Years Prior to meeting Masaki.
Isshin would lay low, even with the Visored incident, Kisuke's banishment, Kaien's death, Kūgo's desertion and Aizen's sudden promotion to Captainship. He had distanced himself from these events in order to not stand out as much as his rebellious older brothers and father. And thus, he had become estranged from the family.
A young Ganju punched his uncle across the room as the family servants held the boy back from making a further fool of himself.
"You didn't do anything when Big Bro Kaien vanished! Are you some kinda coward?!," he shouted.
"I love you, but I don't want you hang around the house. Not until you find a way to free Rukongai from his clutches.," Kukaku said.
Isshin as a Branch member of the family still complied, but he said-
"I have an idea. Ashiyaku seems antsy when around Quincy. That seems to be the best chance. Not our clan, but their powers."
Following Years
Isshin would meet Masaki by happenstance and the events transpired that led to them being romantically involved. And he get involved with Kisuke who had his own reasons to stop the Soul Emperor. And Isshin had a potential means to use against the Soul Emperor through Masaki's first born.
However, Ryūken, Masaki and to an extent, Katagari and Sōken, all suspected the lovely dovey attitude was an act to use her to get to someone. However, their main concern was just getting a peace between Soul Reapers and Quincy. They set up a medical clinic and had three children.
Masaki was publicly killed by a Hollow and rumored to be a victim of the Quincy King's resurrection by Sōken. While he was sad, he focused more of his attention on improving Ichigo to become strong enough to defeat Ashiyaku.
Ryūken punched Isshin in the gut when he realized when he visited the household and the extravagant picture of Masaki fell down as it revealed the pictures of several of the Shiba Clan heads, all with the same orange hair that Ichigo had inexplicably possessed. The realization that he was making his son a weapon to go after some dangerous man.
Isshin felt hope as Ichigo got stronger, but his disappointment was reached when he sensed Ichigo's power after his Dangai and even his training in the Soul Palace hadn't allowed him to reach the levels needed to defeat Ashiyaku. He had no desire to have Yuzu or Karin take part in their brother's place. It was all be on Isshin's hands to avenge the clan.
However, in spite of these ulterior motives, he still loved them...his new family...
Present
"Bankai: Ryūsei Engetsu (Meteor Scathing Moon)."
Isshin was engulfed in flames as Ashiyaku impaled his sword into the ground.
12 golden gnomons rising from the ground as they formed a wide circle as a large clock with a humanoid face with a smaller version of the humanoid faced clock appeared on its forehead loomed over the field. Ashiyaku traded his gauntlet for a long pendulum like weapon held in both hands with a scythe blade attached to the end.
"Bankai: Teitai Jidai (Stalled Era)."
Isshin continued to be engulfed in flames. as Ashiyaku took a battle pose.
"This thing takes considerable strain on my body, rendering it unusable if I'm heavily injured. Heavy heavy injuries prevent him from fixing his Spiritual Pressure properly, hence why I cannot activate it. It takes one slip up and everything around me might go down in flames with me."
The flames formed into a humanoid shape, revealing Isshin's form.
Isshin was now composed of blue fire with dark blue shoulder guards that were connected by a high collar that went around the back of Isshin's neck. He wore light blue armbands and armor on the back of his hands, two large wings sprouted on his upper back. He wore a waist cloth tied with a knot over baggy pants of a lightly darker pair of pants. His "hair" now reached his ankles. In his right hand, he wielded a large zanbato sword in his right hand, which was as big as he was tall. The kanji for meteor was on the pummel of the blade. He was shirtless in this form as well as barefooted.
Four sphere shaped like meteors and engulfed in flames surrounded Isshin.
"Mine isn't like Old Geezer Yama's. It's not meant to be dragged out and flashy. It's more like an explosion that has to be finely controlled. One slip up and it means everything goes to shit.," explained Isshin.
Ashiyaku continued to say nothing.
Isshin flew into the area and struck the clock, causing a massive explosion. However, the clock was unaffected.
When he tried to fly away to gain distance, he was repelled by an invisible force field.
"Tch, Guess I gotta play your game in order to get out of here.," Isshin said he lowered himself to the ground.
Ashiyaku immediately went on the offensive without warning as he struck at Isshin's sword, as the latter used to block an attack to his heart just in time.
The 1st gnomon glowed as Isshin suddenly felt like time was slowing down.
He flew into the area and slashed the ground, causing a massive explosion.
Ashiyaku, unharmed leaped from the explosion as he made an attempt at Isshin's jugular, but the latter blocked it with his sword.
The second glowed as Isshin felt like time had stopped.
When he came to, he saw Ashiyaku on the ground.
He flew downwards as Ashiyaku went for his armbands.
The third glowed as Ashiyaku struck again...in the same motion with no deviation as if he had repeated the action.
Ashiyaku repeated the action several times as the gnomons all glowed.
What followed was a very surreal experience.
In the fifth attack he suddenly jolted forwards; in the sixth, he jolted back, in the seventh, he felt like his skin get older, in eight, he felt like his skin get younger, in the ninth, he saw another version of himself, in the tenth, he saw he was standing int he middle of a void, in the eleventh, he was back where he was and in the twelfth, he felt himself fade away into nothing.
However, one of the meteors was absorbed into the blade as Isshin forced it upwards. The gnomon circle sunk into ground as it vanished from sight.
"Backdraft."
It released an explosion upwards as it hit the clock, propelling it upwards into the sky as it roared in its fury. Ashiyaku's scythe proceeded to vanish.
"That's one.," Isshin noted to himself.
"I don't know what weird illusions you used, but it's not gonna work on me-," Isshin boasted.
"That wasn't an illusion.," Ashiyaku explained.
Isshin was taken by this statement.
Old man always said his powers weren't normal. It felt a little like Jikanteishi, but it was more advanced. There's no way any of his bullshit being able to control time is accurate., thought now fiery based man.
He then allowed another meteor to absorbed into the blade.
"Kemuri (Smog)."
Isshin stabbed the blade into the ground, creating a smokescreen of smog in order to conceal his movements.
Ashiyaku then proceeded to say in response to this-
"Enlighten Satori (Enlightenment)."
A large lavender ring appeared behind Ashiyaku's head, serving as a halo.
He then moved away to the side as he felt an intense heat coming behind him.
"Hitatsumaki (Fire Tornado)."
A fire tornado was fired away from the spot Ashiyaku was he went into the distance.
Isshin stared in confusion as he saw Ashiyaku.
He'd know about an attack from behind when he couldn't see it. It's not experience, it's something else. And that's with the halo now?, thought the flame man.
The last meteor was then assimilated into the sword as Isshin turned white with searing flames.
"Suisei (Comet)."
Isshin blitzed towards Ashiyaku as the halo levitated upwards and spun around. The environment turned translucent and clear for some reason that Isshin couldn't even begin to care about.
"Bankai- Shizukana Ishiki Ryōiki (Tranquil Awareness Realm)."
W-What the fuck?! He has two Bankai Releases?! Wait?! He had a second Zanpakuto?!, thought Isshin as he attacked at blindingly fast speeds, but the orange haired man continued to dodge like the attacks were nothing.
However, when they became increasingly more intense, Ashiyaku declared.
"Shinkai (Evolved Release): Ten-Botoke-Me (Heavenly Buddha Eye)."
The area returned to normal as Ashiyaku gained a third eye on his head as the man proceeded to do a kicking motion, with the air current from the strike, propelling Isshin away.
"What's the second eye?," asked the fiery man now back to a blue flame.
"My second power.," Ashiyaku replied.
"Two different Zanpakuto?! This isn't possible!," Isshin observed.
"Because they're not. That was my Shikō Oken. What you faced earlier was my Reiken.," Ashiyaku told the man.
"Shikō Oken? Reiken?," Isshin asked.
"It doesn't matter in the long run for a dead man.," said Ashiyaku.
"Well, you're not the only one with a surprise.," the Shiba said.
"Are you assuming that me losing my spheres meant my powers were done? Sure destroying them would be a big issue if you destroyed them, but that's not what they're for.," Isshin said as he rose his Spiritual Pressure.
"Hmm?," asked Ashiyaku.
"Secret Technique: Hiryū (Fire Dragon).," Isshin said as his Spiritual Pressure formed into a blue flame dragon of Western appearance with large wings, four legs with a rounded club for a tail. It then turned red as Isshin's color turned red.
"Tōshirō would like this. He and I are opposites. He's more of a reserved traditional type with a mature and icy attitude. I'm unrestrained with a fiery and reckless attitude.," Isshin explained.
"The thing about this power needing me to be in top shape. It's to act as a container until I fulfill my conditions for its release. If I got hurt beforehand. It would be an issue as it would go wild and attack at random without its owner. That's the kind of power Engetsu is."
"And you're wrong in thinking that the Shiba weren't ready to face you. The Getsuga Tenshō and Mugetsu is just one of our techniques. Nine in total meant to stop you., I won't even need Hiryū yet." Isshin said.
Ashiyaku jolted and stabbed Isshin through the head with an peeved expression.
"Shiba Moon Technique 1: Iyashinogetsu (Healing Moon)."
Isshin's face began to regenerate from the damage to Ashiyaku's confusion.
"You can't hurt me anymore.," said Isshin.
"Shiba Moon Technique 2: Getsuga Tenshō (Moon-Fang Piercer of the Heavens)."
Ashiyaku was hit by an even stronger beam that caused a deep cut through his chest.
"The usual variant is just a restrained version. How did it feel to have pain inflicted on you.," said the Shiba.
"Shiba Moon Technique 3: Kesugetsu (Erasing Moon)."
As Ashiyaku went to block a wider version of Getsuga Tenshō with his right hand, the arm was erased.
"You didn't see that coming did you?," Isshin remarked.
"Shiba Moon Technique No. 4: Ichiji-Tekinagetsu (Temporal Moon)."
Ashiyaku was suddenly frozen in time after he blocked a Getsuga Tenshō. His frozen expression of livid rage said it all.
"The Shiba always felt fear under the mercy of your incomprehensible powers. But, when we figured it was time. It wasn't a big deal. Sorry for fibbing about not knowing about your time powers.," said the former 10th captain.
"Shiba Moon Technique 5: Kemonogetsu (Bestial Moon)."
Ashiyaku was rammed by an energy boar shaped Getsuga Tenshō, which propelled him into a pillar.
"I'm getting warmed up.," Isshin added.
"Shiba Moon Technique 6: Kyōkigetsu (Crazed Moon)."
Ashiyaku began to contort into eerie and increasingly maddening shapes before returning to normal after he was hit by a Getsuga Tenshō like beam.
"How is it?"
"Shiba Moon Technique 7:Amega Futteimasu (Raining Moon)."
Ashiyaku was bombarded by several Getsuga Tenshō attacks.
"My clan's wrath of generations of being humiliated under your heel? To feel it?!"
"Shiba Moon Technique 8: Getsuga Jigokukōtei (Moon-Fang Impaler of Hell)."
Ashiyaku was hit by a Getsuga Tenshō that when hit, didn't do any obvious damage, but it caused him to shout in pain.
"You must be feeling that pain down to that rotten soul of yours. But, I intend to end it soon.," Isshin said as Isshin was covered in black flames as bluish-gray bandages surrounded his torso and and mouth. He swung down his sword as it created a several meter tall wave of energy that engulfed Ashiyaku.
"Shiba Moon Technique 9: Mugetsu (Moonless Sky)."
Isshin then turned to Hiryū who proceeded to inject his tail into his master.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow. It burns. Learn to be a little more careful you dumbass.," he said as he slapped his dragon on the head. It sheepishly whimpered like a dog.
"I didn't really know about this side of you the first time I used this technique. I actually did believe at the time that the loss of the spheres meant my Bankai would go inactive, shows how inexperienced I was back then. That little trick just stored me up with Spiritual Power to go again.," the man spoke more seriously.
"I bet they'll scramble for power, but Kisuke and I will make sure that they comply with our requests to disband the aristocracy and bureaucracies of all the Branches. And set up guilds to deal with the threats. Something that is controlled by the common people and can interact with the World of the Living without fear of scrutiny. No clan will be raised above the other. For the people-"
"That's so cliche. Kurosaki Isshin."
Suddenly, he was stabbed in the gut by a large armored hand.
Isshin looked up to see it was a samurai armored themed entity with watches for knee guards, hourglasses on his forearms, clocks on his boots, sundial shoulder armor, an hourglass for a midsection, shin/waist armor with the kanji for time as sequential numbers respectively, and chest armor with the kanji for king in the center. All the lettering was emblazoned with golden with the armor being a darker gold. Its face was a humanoid clock with a round nose with the hands acting as a mustache, small, round red eyes with tiny black pupils with fragments surrounding it resembling Roman numerals for a clock and gritting grimace in constant armor. A small head appeared on its forehead with the same features, but with a third eye in the center of its forehead.
"Shinkai: Teitai Jikanō (Stagnant Time King)." Ashiyaku said as he reappeared behind Isshin. He was completely restored to his old self prior to the damage he had taken beforehand from the assault.
"H-how did you survive that?," Isshin said as he saw the orange haired man as the entity removed its arm from Isshin's gut, which quickly regenerated.
Teitai Jikanō exists outside of time, it can cast a multiple array of time abilities on a target for 10 seconds at a time, additionally keeping me out of the flow of existence for that amount while also healing me from any damage inflicted on me, and defeat them with absolute strength. Even you were able to hit it with reality warping, abilities, curses illusions or hypnosis. Teitai Jikanō is immune., thought Ashiyaku.
"You have no idea of what true godlike abilities are like. Let me show you. And it will spell the end of your irritating clan's rebellion.," boasted Ashiyaku.
"Hiryū!," he shouted.
The dragon fired a flamethrower, fireball projectiles, dragon shaped projectiles, columns of fire to rain from the sky and fire tornadoes all at Ashiyaku.
However, Teitai Jikanō waved its hand and the attacks vanished.
"You negated them?!," Isshin said as he then turned to the sky and saw Hiryū dissipating into embers. Isshin became increasingly worried as his own flame flame dispersed as he returned to normal.
"An attack like that never occurred in this present.," Ashiyaku said as Teitai Jikanō slashed Isshin diagonally in half.
The man's top half fell down to the ground as the top half gushed out blood.
Ashiyaku walked towards the man and said-
"I honestly thought you had come for the avenging of your wife of that accursed Kurosaki clan, but this was just a petty squabble from your Shiba's dissatisfaction and ungratefulness for their lot in life. All for meager pride."
Isshin clawed the ground as he looked intensely.
"D-don't mock my older brother and my family."
"Family?...Don't worry, Karin's in my care old fella."
Isshin's eyes widened in shock as he came to a realization concerning Karin's work-life.
"Don't you dare hurt-"
Ashiyaku stabbed Isshin in the throat as he continued to bleed out in a pool of his own blood.
The orange haired man and Regma noticed a powerful Spiritual Pressure in the 6th Section of the city.
"If anyone says where we were. Say it was an agent of the Dio Hueco.," Ashiyaku said as Teitai Jikanō vanished. Regma nodded as the two vanished.
Ichigo appeared to see his father and another surprising sight.
"I thought he was here, but it turned out to be someone else. It doesn't really matter in the long run.," said a voice.
Xiuhtecuhtli had just appeared in Isshin location, standing over the bifurcated body. The son came to the most apparent conclusion.
"I sensed you were fighting someone, but I couldn't get who you were fighting?! The Spiritual Pressure you were fighting...I didn't sense it..."
If you couldn't sense that when you sensed Aizen's...then it's impossible..., thought Isshin.
"Sorry...Ichigo...I told you to live well, age well, and go bald well. And die after me. And... if you can, die smiling. If I can't, I won't be able to face Masaki. Don't hesitate to act. Sadness is a cool thing to shoulder, but you're still too young for it..., but it seems you're just as stubborn as I was in making decisions and actions that hurt others like I did..."
"Don't talk dad. We'll get you help.," Ichigo pleaded.
"I used Masaki and you to get to here to fulfill my revenge. Seeing it now, we, Shiba were just mistaken fools. Don't go the path I went alone and without friends...,"
"Don't talk dad! Stay with me!"
"Ryūken was just another tool to me. The only people I didn't see as discardable pawns or tools...were Karin and Yuzu...You gotta protect them for me...like you do Orihime and Kazui...your sisters were my only joy...and I see now that it's not your job for this fight...it's your wife and son...You don't have to take the burden anymore..."
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Apologize for Ganju and Kukaku for me. I took all the burden for myself. They don't need to follow our clan's goal. It's pointless now. We're dying out. We're sinners that got what we deserve."
"Oh Masaki...when did I stray so far from the sun...and from the family I should've cared for...I suck..."
With a weak smile, Isshin dissipated into Spiritual Particles.
Ichigo had just lost another parent. He had failed to protect another member of his family.
"Damnit! You came here to throw your life away against the Dio Hueco?! Dumbass! If that what you wanted that! I should've been with you!"
"Wait...you think...?," Xiuhtecuhtli said with bewilderment.
Ichigo pulled out his two swords, two separate, purely black blades. One was a large blade in the shape of a khyber knife, with the grip at the base of the blade and a handle extending back from this about roughly the width and length of Ichigo's forearm. There was a thin, hollowed-out portion running along the back edge of the blade from the base to the middle of the blade. The second blade was relatively small, about the size of Ichigo's arm, and was similar to the first blade, but resembled a trench knife more than a sword. Unlike its counterpart, it had an enclosed handle, with a portion acting like a hand guard.
"So you're a Dio Hueco? You're definitely big. It means I'll be have a lot more to cut down.," Ichigo said.
"You're a fool. You think I did this?," the Dio Hueco questioned the Substitute Soul Reaper.
"You guys attacked Harribel and the others. You're my enemies.," Ichigo shouted.
"That's true Huītzilōpōchtli and Chalchiuhtlicue did attack them, but this wasn't me that-," Xiuhtecuhtli argued.
"So you admit it. You're after me and my powers! Like every enemy before me!," Ichigo yelled.
"Dont' be so conceited, boy...Wait, you have the hair color of the Sun Goddess...I see you're the heir to the Shiba Clan that inherited that accursed color. I changed my mind. I was going to ignore you and go after Kisuke first, but you have a power that is unnatural and unholy!,"
"I don't care for your crap! You're gonna die-," Ichigo
"Ichigo.," said a high pitched voice in Ichigo's head.
The orange haired, young man grabbed his head as if to suppress something.
"What is it?! Butt out-," Ichigo said before suddenly Xiuhtecuhtli shoved his hand into Ichigo's chest and pulled out a white entity. As he did so, Ichigo's hair turned black.
"I'll show you exactly what this all means.," Xiuhtecuhtli explained.
Ichigo stared in bewilderment as he saw his Zanpakuto out in the open- a fairly tall and lean-built version of himself with white skin and hair. His eyes that consisted of black pupils, golden irises, and black sclera. He had black nails and wore a white version of Ichigo's outfit.
"What's with this Ichigo? You want to-," the white entity said.
"Cut the crap, Tengagetsu. You, Muramasa (Village Just), Enrakyōten (Law of the Bewitching Lucid Mirror), Saimin-jutsu (Hypnosis), and Rin'ne (Samsara)...you bastards need to die first for what you did to us. Or should I refer to you by the name of your current vessel...Ichiyon Shiba?," Xiuhtecuhtli asked.
Ichigo stood in bafflement as the white Hollow version of himself pulled out a black cloth and wrapped it around his head. As he did so, the black headband became red, his white skin became peach, his outfit black, his sclera white and his irises brown. Ichigo was now looking at an almost identical version of himself.
"He would've gone his whole life without knowing. And if things had gone right, I would've possessed him to kill Ashiyaku Domanojo as per the wishes of the Shiba Clan.," the red headband man complained.
"What is the meaning of this Zangetsu?!," Ichigo shouted in confusion.
"You were right. I was Zangetsu...I was Rasengetsu (Spiral Moon). Futagogetsu (Twin Moons). Gorotsukigetsu (Thuggish Moon). Ketsuekigetsu (Blood Moon). Mirokumaru (Maitreya Circle). Bakuhatsugetsu (Explosive Moon). Jūryokugetsu (Gravity Moon). Ongakugetsu (Music Moon). Kakusaretagetsu (Hidden Moon). Tōmeinagetsu (Transparent Moon). Sakkakugetsu (Illusion Moon). Hikarigetsu (Light Moon). Mohōsurugetsu (Mimic Moon). Jigokugetsu (Hell Moon). Any name to compensate for your inherent lack of talent, I took the form and abilities the Shiba clan heads past, present and future could've hypothetically had if not for your orange power blocking that potential and making you normal and powerless. You would be nothing without me. Technically, it was halted when Ichiyon was made into White's composition, but the process was resumed when you inherited the powers from Masaki.," said the man as he transformed into a middle aged man with upper-back unkempt hair, a large man with thick sideburns, a bald man with a chest length ponytail, an average sized woman with a ponytail, a tall man with a raised pompadour, a huge chubby fellow with spike like hair, a thin, afro haired man with sunflower shaped shades, a long haired youth with a mouth mask with a scarf, a mustached man with shoulder length hair, a bespectacled man with shaggy, scholarly hair, a youth with spiky lower back length hair, a gaunt man with a puffy afro and a lean built man with waist length hair and heavy burns on the right side of his face. He then turned back into Ichiyon.
"What the hell was that?!," Ichigo demanded.
"The truth that you're just a pawn and any desire you had was just a means to an end for me to end these guys and get back at my employers.," said Tengagetsu.
"You were a fool Xiuhtecuhtli to get me out of his body. Now, I'll get to take you down again like I did in your old world.," the orange haired copy spoke to the Dio Hueco.
Xiuhtecuhtli then turned cross at the mention of that last part of the sentence.
Next Chapter: The Blade Isn't Me