Chapter Ninety One:
Ichigo folded his arms restlessly, leaning against the trunk of one of the trees he was taking cover beneath. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the brimming crowd of children for the two who meant the most to him. He'd reasoned that if he arrived earlier than Ishida, maybe he could at least spend a spattering of minutes with the twins.
A sigh escaped him. It had been three weeks, three long and hard weeks since he had come to blows with his childhood friend. Being away from the twins for so long had been heartbreaking and soul destroying, all the sunlight in his life had drained away into nothing more than flittering rays between heavy storm clouds.
Chad had been dodging his calls, 'Hime wouldn't reply to his texts, Tatsuki had thrown him out of the dojo. All because of Ishida's word. All because Ishida didn't like Makoto.
And... Makoto had helped, at least a little. They'd spent almost every day together, at the apartment; out at restaurants; bars; Keigo had ended up barring them for getting too rowdy one night... Which had in turn lead to some complications with working at the club... But, at the very least, Ichigo was sure he'd spent more time drunk than sober recently.
His tongue felt thick in his mouth, head still fuzzy even has he continued casting an eye over the wave of adolescents, looking for Kaida and Hotaru.
Makoto... He'd called early that morning, giving some apologetic excuse about why he couldn't drop in, he'd received a job opportunity, or something of the sort. While disappointed initially, it had at least given Ichigo a moment to breathe for himself for the first time in weeks. To think about things that had been pushed aside by drink and singular company, and isolation. It was the very reason he was now stood beneath the trees waiting for a glimpse of the twins.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Ichigo sighed. While his hangover remained, he was at least more focused than he had been that morning. And he'd seen Yokochini, which had been a bonus. The man had taken one look at him and gone the other way, ushering his kid into the school before fleeing as fast as possible without looking too scared. That had been the highlight of his day, although he wouldn't have minded another round with him.
A small frown made itself pronounced on his brow. The yard was beginning to empty. Yet the twins were nowhere in sight. They were normally among the first to leave. Where were they?
The barrage of lively children was thinning more and more and yet there was no sign of the twins anywhere. It wasn't like them. He ventured inside the walls of the school, pacing the yard to see if they were playing somewhere.
He felt his heart rate increase, anxiety worming its way into his chest. There were no parents left in the yard, they'd all gone. Their children had all left with them. There was silence. His first instinct was to close his eyes, to try and sense them. He could have slapped himself for his stupidity. He hadn't been able to sense reiatsu since using the Final Getsuga Tenshou. Stupid.
Maybe... Maybe Ishida had beaten him to it... Maybe he'd been and gone and the twins were already home, having dinner and doing their homework.
But he was sure he would have seen Ishida. And there was no way he would have missed the bright burnt orange hair that Kaida was becoming so proud of.
Ichigo went inside the school, heading for the reception desk. He rested his hands on the counter and looked at the woman sat behind it, "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, I'm here to pick up Kaida and Hotaru Ishida but they haven't come out yet. Have they been kept behind for some reason?"
The receptionist looked up at him doubtfully, her eyebrows curled behind her half moon glasses as she nudged them further up her nose and sniffed, "Mr Kurosaki, was it?" She asked, tapping a couple of keys at her computer before she stopped and stared at him, "According to this... Kaida and Hotaru Ishida were picked up earlier today, at lunchtime. By you."
Blinking, he stumbled over whatever words could have come to mind, his anxiety growing as his palms grew clammy, "I... I see..."
He could see accusation growing in her expression, and he wasn't sure where to start trying to explain the situation he'd unknowingly walked into. He turned on his heel, and fled, the reception doors clanged shut behind him but he didn't dare stop.
Ichigo rushed away from the school grounds, snatching his phone from his pocket, he immediately stabbed Ishida's number in and dialled it. He paced furiously on the street, biting his lip hard between his teeth. Praying silently that Ishida would pick up.
No matter what had been said, no matter what was going on between them... The twins were Ishida's whole world, and they were his too.
He hadn't picked them up. He hadn't seen them for three weeks. But someone... Someone had collected them, someone-
He hung up. Punching in Orihime's number.
Someone had picked up the twins using his name, his name. And maybe... Oh by the Soul King, maybe they had used his face. Izanshi... The Espada had warned him! Months and months ago, they'd told him Izanshi had fled to the World of the Living!
Voicemail. He lowered his phone from his ear as dread gnawed at his belly. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his very core. Something was really, really wrong.
"Fuck." He breathed.
Ichigo took off at a sprint, arms pumping at his sides as all traces of his hangover vanishing. Focus returning. Fear pulsing through him. Something had happened. He knew it. He knew it. If someone had taken the children... If they'd used his name, his face... It was personal! They were in danger! If it was Izanshi... They could already be dead.
He drove faster, legs burning from strain as he roared his way down the winding roads and pathways, using every shortcut he knew to reach the Ishida family home as quickly as he could. The sun was beginning it descent towards the horizon, not yet fully gone, but its tilt had passed far beyond its highest point. Night would be upon him before long. But until then, the scorching heat seared his skin, sweat soaked his shirt but it did nothing to slow his approach.
Throwing open the gate, he cast his eyes over the family home. Everything looked as it should, nothing was out of place. No broken windows, no scratch marks on the door frame, not a blade of grass out of place.
A sickening lurch in his gut made him nauseous. What if... What waited him inside was... The same as what had awaited those who'd first entered the Kurosaki household all those years ago... What if the slaughter had been repeated... What if they had been murdered... Like Karin and Yuzu.
His feet were glued to the floor, dread washing over him as fear rose in place of adrenaline. He could barely breathe through the panic. The idea of his little sisters mangled at his feet... Instead replaced by Kaida... And Hotaru...
"N-No..." He gulped, hands shaking as he balled them into fists, "I-I can't think like that... It would break me..."
There was no Shiro to save him from his pain this time. He had to believe the worst had not yet come to pass.
The feeling of trepidation and anxiety pulsed through his core like a drum, hitting new heights as blood rushed through his ears, deafening him. He took a single step forwards. Then another. And another. Cautious steps, fearful steps.
He lifted a quivering hand, resting it against the pale wood door, it creaked beneath his touch and swung slowly open, without difficulty.
Ichigo's breath hitched in his throat, the hallway was a spiralling story of chaos and violence, books splashed across the floor, pages torn free and crumpled under foot, blood marks splattered on the walls, pictures crooked on their hooks. Even without being able to sense reiatsu, the heavy oppression which lingered in the air was tangible.
"N-No..." He gasped out, "No... No... No, no, no, no..."
He felt very small as he forced himself inside the family home, his chest burning with the urge to scream in disbelief, his eyes stinging with tears he didn't dare shed. The living room was in similar, if not worse, disarray than the entrance hall, the sofas had been gutted – their fluff was strewn across the room, dangling from the light fixtures and hanging limply over the shattered television screen. The lamps had been toppled, the chairs uprooted and thrown against the walls. The carpet had been clawed apart, rugs shredded. More blood smears on the paintwork, on the coffee table.
A chill crept across Ichigo's skin, his arm hairs standing to attention as he gulped for breath, his chest constricting in fear. Anything capable of this kind of damage was more than capable of overpowering Orihime. Maybe even Ishida.
He knew Izanshi had been strong when they'd met in the Central Great Underground Prison, he'd been Espada material, but special. He'd been capable of murdering Yamamoto, anyone with that strength would be far too powerful for one lone Quincy and his gifted wife. He believed Izanshi would have been a challenge even for him, even when he had been in his peak, in his prime.
His attention was caught by a glint of silver on the floor, tucked just under the ruined rug. He reached down and snatched it up, mouth going dry as he watched Ishida's Quincy Cross dangle in front of his eyes.
Panic overturned his sense of caution.
"KAIDA! HOTARU?!" He exclaimed, running for the staircase.
His foot hit the bottom step, but he froze. Chestnut eyes drawn into the kitchen. Orihime's cooking and baking equipment was everywhere. Cluttered over the surfaces, over the floor, piled in the sink. Cupboard doors had been ripped off their hinges, the oven had been torn apart. Pots and pans were dented. Blood. More blood.
Gaze dropping towards the breakfast table, Ichigo was sure his heart skipped a beat as he laid eyes on a shoe. It was pink. Kaida's. He moved closer, throwing the stools aside to reveal what lay beyond. A flash of silver, searing pain.
Recoiling, his ass hit the floor as his hands came up to meet the kitchen knife now buried in his shoulder. Biting his tongue between his teeth to silence the cry of pain that threatened to escape him, he squeezed his eyes shut. Breaths coming ragged and loose.
"Mmmm... FUCK!" He howled, shaking faintly as racks of pain shot up and down his arm.
"Ichi-ji?!"
His eyes flashed open in an instant, and he released a shaky breath. Relief momentarily washing away his pain as he was fixed with two large dark eyes, "Kaida! You're safe!"
"I-Is it... Is it really you?" The young girl swallowed, in her hands was another knife, longer than the first, but just as sharp, she was shaking, but the intent in her eyes would have made Ishida proud.
"I-It's me... It's me... I swear it..." His blood ran cold, "What happened?!"
She knelt at his sides, hands flailing awkwardly as she looked at the knife still sticking out of him, "You... You came to the school today... You picked us up early... At least... I thought you did. You weren't quite yourself... You were too upbeat, too happy..."
Ichigo's heart sank immediately and he felt his chest clench, "It wasn't me..."
"I know..." She said quietly, "He had reiatsu... It was faint... He was hiding it but... I could tell and it felt all wrong..."
"When he got you back here... He changed, didn't he? Became erratic... Dark..."
"Y-Yes." She nodded once, "He was a fake... Somehow... Dad heard the shouting, came out of his office... They fought... He hurt dad... Mum tried to help but he hurt her too."
His gut clenched, "Did he say anything? Anything at all?"
"Y-Yes... He said... He needed us for something... Something important. He s-snatched Hotaru, Mum... And Dad... I hid. I didn't know what else to do! He was so strong... His reiatsu was... Crushing... Hollow... But he still looked like you... He had your face... Your scent..."
Reaching out, he clasped her hands in his, squeezing comfortingly as he watched tears splash her face, "It's alright... You did the right thing. You couldn't have taken him on... He would have taken you too. I'm so proud of you..."
"What are we going to do, Ichi-ji?" Kaida whispered, her second weapon clattering to the floor as she let out a dry sob.
He faltered at the innocence of her question, her eyes looked so longing and desperate. Kaida was looking at him like he was a hero, like he could sweep in and save the day. She was looking at him like... Well, like the Shinigami used to.
But what could he do? He was just a Human. But could they afford to assume that Soul Society would help? Did Soul Society even care anymore? What if no one came? What if no one cared?
His teeth clenched and he gulped back his fears, even if no one else cared... He did. Despite everything he'd said to Ishida... Despite all the rage and anger and isolation... He still cared. He cared about Kaida! He cared about Hotaru! He cared about Orihime... And Ishida! And if this really was Izanshi... Karakura town was in danger too.
Reaching up sharply, Ichigo pulled the knife from his shoulder emitting a small hiss of discomfort as the metal clattered to the floor. He forced himself up, holding a hand out to help her to her feet, "Did you hear him say anything about where he was going?"
"Yes, the park." She replied, "I can sense them there now. Mum and dad are hurt, their powers are being restricted by something. Hotaru seems alright, just scared."
He was weak, he was Human, he could do... Barely a thing to help. But he had to try. He had to try, for them. For the memory of who they thought he was. Kaida and Hotaru had always listened so eagerly to his stories, always cheered for him like he was their hero, like he could save them from anything. Because of their parent's stories, because of the power they'd felt from him in the past. They looked at him like he could do anything, be anything, beat anyone. For that alone... He had to try.
But he would need help.
Running his tongue along his teeth he stared down at her in thought. Ishida would kill him. Orihime might kill him too.
He lifted the older Quincy's Cross in front of her, seeing how her eyes lit up at the sight of it, "Has he shown you how to use it?"
Kaida's eyes met his and her lips seemed to tighten in a determined line, "Yes."
Ichigo pushed it into her hands, searching her gaze for even the smallest hint of reluctance, "It's going to be dangerous, you could get hurt. You could die."
"I'm a Quincy." She replied quietly, "I can't just sit around and do nothing while he hurts my brother! My dad! My mum!"
He allowed his head to drop. He recognised so much of her determination, reflecting the attitude he used to have. Ichigo swallowed hard, closing his eyes as he considered his words carefully.
"Kaida... I'm not the man I used to be. I can't guarantee I can keep you safe... I'm not a Shinigami... I'm not even a Hollow... The best I can do is hope that he's in a Gigai and if he is... I can use my fists." He said softly.
"Oh, Ichi-ji... You're so much more than a Human. You always have been." She rested her hands on his head tenderly, fingers stroking his hair, "There is still red in your spirit ribbon, I can see it even now. Don't give up. Never give up."
His reply was silenced by the sound of footsteps crunching glass in the hallway, Ichigo snatched up the discarded knife and spun towards the doorway, prepared to strike. His eyes widened almost instantly as he came face to face with the towering form of another of his childhood friends.
"Chad!"
"Ichigo." The man replied, casting an eye around, "He's made his move then?"
"You knew about Izanshi too?" The strawberry quizzed.
"Ishida mentioned what the Espada told him. We expected the Hollow to target you, not..." Large shoulders lifted and fell, "What's the plan?"
"We're going after him of course." Kaida hissed.
"What of Soul Society?" Chad tilted his head.
Ichigo sucked in a breath, "Got no way of knowing if they'll send help. I know it's not ideal but... We have no choice."
"Worst luck, Urahara's out of town too right now." The man folded his arms across his chest, "I'll come with you."
Ichigo muttered his thanks, looking around for something that could serve as a decent enough weapon for him to use. A knife wouldn't get him far.
"If you're looking for a weapon, I think dad has some Seele Schneider in his office." Kaida piped up as if reading his thoughts, "Come on, I'll show you."
He allowed his hand to be grabbed by the girl, thanking her as she led him into the office. He'd never set foot there before, Ishida kept it closely guarded and under lock and key, but it seemed that the fight with Izanshi had resulted in the door remaining unlocked.
Casting his gaze around, the first thing Ichigo saw was the belt of Quincy swords slung unceremoniously over the back of a chair. He grabbed it and strapped it around his waist, feeling a little like his old self for having some kind of spirit blade on him. He just hoped he could activate them when the time came. He was sure they were powered by reiatsu... He would have to keep his fingers crossed.
He turned to leave, hearing Chad moving towards the front door if the crunch of glass was anything to go by. His attention was caught by the rows of glass boxes running the length of the room, each containing a Quincy Cross within its sealed depths.
"What are these all doing here?" He asked aloud.
"Huh?" Kaida joined him, "Oh... Dad collected them all. They each belonged to a fallen Quincy. He said he likes having them nearby as a reminder of how powerful we used to be. He doesn't have all of them, but he says that the collection is mostly complete."
"Hmm." Was all he said in response as he turned to leave.
"Wait." She said suddenly, "This one's vibrating... I've never seen them do that before."
He peered over at her as she approached one of the glass cases, opening it and plucking the name card out. There was something tugging at his gut as she looked at it, something gnawing, something deep and dangerous and scary. Something he'd know for a long time. Something he'd never faced.
"Masaki?" Kaida read aloud, "I don't know any Masaki's."
"I do." He whispered, staring at the cross that sat so serenely. He could hear the thrum, the vibration of energy. He wasn't sure how he heard it, how he felt it. He was sure he shouldn't have been able to feel anything from it. And yet...
"Everything that he is, everything that he can do... Originally came from you, Ichigo. He was the will of the Hōgyoku, Aizen's will for an equal." The spectral, ghostly image of Tensa pointed at him, index finger pressing into his chest, "You are what you were always meant to be, Ichigo. A Human with the power to protect."
Ichigo hesitated, looking at the sword in his hands. Tensa was right, of course. His mum had been a Human, but even she was unique. There was no doubt in his mind that she had known all about Shinigami and Soul Society, Hollows and everything that came with it. She'd been too aware of the danger Aizen posed... Too aware of everything.
"She was never just a Human."
He knew that, deep down he knew. He wasn't completely sure what it meant, not yet, it was something he'd deal with when he got his body back. But he knew there was more to her than met the eye. She'd been special, and not just because she had been the centre of his universe. She had known about Shinigami. Known about Hollows. She'd known Urahara just like his dad had... She was way more than just a regular Human.
He closed his eyes, allowing his head to hang. He should have asked the question. He should have explored that conversation, his gut instinct.
The night Shiro had been created, the night his family had died... Masaki, his mother, she knew Aizen. She saw him, stood before her, in his Soul form. No Gigai, no questions. No questions about her husband's Zanpakutō. No questions about her son's Hollowfication. She knew. She knew about Shinigami. She knew about Hollows. No normal Human would have been able to comprehend it.
Aizen had said that night, that two powerful people would create powerful children. Why hadn't he ever asked? How was his mother powerful? How was she special? Beyond the special place in his heart for her, the fact she was his mother, his world, his everything, what was special about her? Why was Aizen interested in her?
Ichigo reached out slowly, fingers brushing the red hot metal of the Cross. It was burning, scorching, it singed his fingers as he picked it up. Marked his palm as he allowed it to rest there. And yet it didn't hurt. The faint tickles felt almost... Natural. Homely.
"Masaki was my mother." He said quietly.
"Then you're..." Kaida stared up at him with wide eyes, "The red and white braid of you spirit ribbon... Of course it makes sense! A Shinigami... And a Quincy..."
Licking his lips as he heard it said aloud, Ichigo glanced at her hopeful expression, "My blood doesn't mean anything. I can't sense reiatsu anymore. I can't see Hollows. It doesn't mean anything."
"Yes it does!" She stomped her foot, "It means everything!"
Her hands closed around his, nails digging into his skin gently as she stepped closer, eyes growing serious as she glowered up at him. He raised his eyebrows when she remained silently and clicked his tongue impatiently, "What?"
"Come on! You said yourself... You got stronger when you accepted yourself as a Shinigami and Hollow! You have to do it again! Accept who and what you are!" She exclaimed, as if it was obvious.
"Accept my... Kaida... That kind of acceptance takes years!" He snapped, regretting it immediately as he looked away, "I can't just... 'Woo I'm special give me power' it doesn't work like that. Accepting something like this takes time, it takes learning and pain... I can't just magic a bow in my hand and hope for the best."
She sighed deeply, "I know. But it's a start. At least say it out loud."
"What? No." He scoffed and pulled his hands free from her smaller ones, tucking the Cross in his back pocket, "We need to go."
Ichigo felt guilty as he sidestepped the Quincy child, stalking towards Chad. He heard Kaida move behind him, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her, his heart was troubled. Both with worry for his friends and turmoil for his discovery.
"It shouldn't be dark yet." Chad's deep baritone forced Ichigo's eyes skywards, "It's barely six."
"It's a storm." Kaida whispered.
Ichigo stared up at the tremulous storm clouds brewing overhead, casting a dark shadow over the town, making it look like night. He could already hear the low rumble of thunder brewing in the distance. Teeth clenched as he felt the first large pellets of rain strike his head.
He hated the rain.
"We need to hurry." The strawberry breathed, glancing momentarily at the man, and the girl at his side.
Ignoring the warm trickles of blood running down his arm, ignoring the deep throb rising from the wound in his shoulder, ignoring the hot thrum of energy pulsing in his pocket, Ichigo stalked forwards with only one destination in mind. He was going to make Izanshi regret ever showing his face again. He still owed the Hollow a painful death on behalf of Hinamori and Norio.
"I can sense multiple Hollow entities in the area, Izanshi's power must be drawing them closer..." Chad muttered.
"Or he's cloned himself." Ichigo said quietly, scowling at the thought, "He's powerful... But we have history. I owe him a proper beating. When we get there I want you both to focus on freeing Ishida, Orihime and Hotaru. If possible try to lessen the number of Hollows or clones in the area. Leave the main body to me."
"What can you do, Ichigo?" Chad asked.
"Whatever it fucking takes." He growled.