Keigo?' Ichigo called out and the brunette teen then turn his head to look at his friend and to the shingami's dismay saw that the fullbringer. Even when he was wearing his torn up xcuation shirt on. Was covered in bandages that were wrapped around his arms, chest, neck, face and head.

Yet despite all the injuries he suffered. Keigo still had his usual goofy cheeky smile on his face.

'Yo, Ichigo, how's it going?' He asked and Ichigo felt himself unable to answer but none the less forced himself to anyway.

'Asano…' the troubled shingmai began to say while gathering his breath and courage. 'There is…something I want to talk to you about…privately'

Keigo then raised his eyebrows in confusion.

'Private?' He question…before busting out laughing.

'Oh, you mean you want to talk about that massive gigaton blast you unleashed on the 8th espada. Why would you want to talk privity about that!?' Keigo then let another short giggle. 'I mean everyone knows about that'

Ichigo then felt his heart turn. As he really wants to play along with the teen's false assumptions.

But he could...not anymore.

'That is not…urgh…that is not what I want to talk about about and I rather discuses again discuss this in private' Ichigo urged and Keigo as if taking a hit hummed in approval.

'Alright if you want to talk to man to man, I know where we can go' the agent said as then got into a running stance.

'Race ya!' He challenged and then before Ichigo could say anything Keigo disappeared in a flash of bringer light.

'Hey wait up!' Ichigo shouted back and immediately used flash step to follow the spending teen.

Which resulted in both Ichigo and Keigo running across the rooftops of skyscrapers to a downward subway tunnel that led right out of the Tokyo. All the while the shingami struggled tracked down his friends' movements or even finding out what they were even racing to.

Finally, however Keigo stop at the place he was racing to. With Ichigo falling right behind him.

'Oh, come on Ichigo you should be faster than that!' Keigo teased which made shingmai youth growled in impatience.

'I would have been faster had I known were we were going in the first place!' He yelled back in frustration, but Keigo just laugh.

'Well, it thats silly since we been to go to this place all the time when we visit Tokyo' He mocked ichigo which made the latter groan in heartache. 'So, what it is that you want to talk about?'

Ichigo seeing that that hyperactive teen was finally taking him seriously. Then readjusted himself and cleared out his throat.

'Keigo…look' the shingami began while trying to speak his words as clearly and carefully as possible. 'I know that the Ichigo you know is your best friend and is really close to you…and I am sorry for lying to you that I was him. but…I am not the Ichigo that you know'

Keigo then remain silent for a moment and then let out a chuckle though it felt force.

'W-what do you mean you are not the Ichigo I know?' He asked in his still cheerful tone. 'You always have been the Ichigo I known. Sure, you have different powers, abilities and act completely unlike him…but that's because you have a crummy day and by tomorrow when we both go to the soul society you be back as good as new'

Ichigo heart then turn as he listen to what Keigo said and he honestly wish he would just remain that denial and oblivious to avoid hurting him...But continuing to lie to would be far worse.

'…Keigo...surly you must of have some clue I was an imposter from the start. Me having a crummy day would not excuse having a 180 change in the way I fight or my personality' Ichigo challenge and Keigo then gotten nervous.

'I…well you said that you were trying some new techniques and some people always turn into completely different people when they are cranky' teen tried to defend but Ichigo just shook his head.

'Asano…when have you ever recall…me acting completely differently when I am on a crummy day?' he asked which then made Keigo frown.

'Well usually, you act more antisocial then usually and take your frustrations out by going out on hollow fighting in the wastelands…or just getting wasted drinking at our local bar'

Ichigo then spasmed at hearing that.

'I was an underage drinker!' he screamed in disbelief.

'You never really cared about laws like that …especially since your privileges as the black prince allow you bypass that type of stuff. Keigo shrugged. While Ichigo just shook his head in disproval.

'Well that just further proves I am a not him. Since I never displayed any of those traits at all! Ichigo then sighed. 'I mean what do you want me to prove that I am not your Ichigo!?'

Keigo then remain silent as his smiling face began to falter and tears began to fall from his eyes and Ichigo feared he may have pushed him too far.

'I…I know Ichigo I just...' his voice then began to crack as he began to wipe away the tears. 'I just…thought you…that he...wouldn't leave so soon'

Ichigo eyes then shoot open as a realization then hit him.

'Wait so you do knew I wasn't him since the beginning ?' Ichigo question but Keigo just shook his head.

'It wasn't that I knew…I was just in denial of it ever happening…in fact I was still in denial even when…my Ichigo told me first alongside his mother that he was going to leave' Keigo then closed his eyes and then turn his head away from ichigio.

'But who could ever guess…that he was going to be replace by an imposter who acts nothing like him…' he spatted bitterly and Ichigo looked away in guilt.

Keigo then turn his head and looked over the ruin playground. 'And when I realized you didn't know the way…or even recognized this place…' he let out a deep breath. 'I knew it was pointless to deny it anymore'

Ichigo then remain silent for a moment as he then looked around the playground itself and then realized it was the site of a battleground. But one that happen years ago, with broken swing sets covered in rust and moss, pieces of earth and cement torn apart. Which was now covered in grass and several craters that were now filled with up with puddles of water.

Seeing the sorry state Keigo was in. Ichigo could not help but feel remorse for him.

'Look Asano I…I'm sorry for how all of this turn out for you. I am, but-'

'But what!?' Keigo snapped harshly at Ichigo, and his voice became cold and cruel. 'That you lied to me pretended to be my friend, played me like fool and only feel sorry that you have been caught!'

The teen shouted and turned to face Ichigo with a hurtful and furious expression. Which made the shingami backed away.

'Or that my best friend had been replaced by an identical stranger and that everyone else is okay with it!?'

He then looked. 'If you are really sorry…whoever you are. Then how about just stay the hell away from me. At least then you don't have worry about maintaining your stupid cover or whatever'

Ichigo seeing that he was not wanted then to turn his back on the hurtful boy and began to exist the playground.

But before he did. Ichigo then turn to face Keigo once more.

'For what it is worth Asano, I may have lied about being who I am…but I never pretended to be your friend…and if anything, it made me appreciate the Keigo that I know lot more…in knowing that he could become someone as strong and as determine as you' Ichigo replied and then left.

Then when the shingami was gone. Keigo gave a look of regret open hearing those words and then left out a sad defeated chuckle.

'Well...Isn't this embarrassing huh?' Keigo talked to himself while continuing to laugh.

'I always kept telling that you that you shouldn't be mean to others. That you should be more willing to care about people and not to assume the worse in everyone…' tears then fell down his face. 'Yet here I am…acting no better than you. Just because I couldn't get my way…like the child I have always been'

Keigo then let out a breath and then stared at the full moon in the night sky. Its light pale light shining down upon him and while boy gave it a broken smile.

'Maybe it's about time…for this child to finally grow up'