Hey guys!

Strong (Boy): Just a heads up, some future chapters will be come out as a kind of fast forward since we really don't want Ichigo staying on some regions too long like Jhoto for example or maybe a timeskip of sort.

Kind (Girl): And I'm just gonna say it, some of the girls are gonna get bolder unlike this story's previous volume. Though, Ichigo's still a guy who's gonna take a while to get a hint.

Hope, you enjoy!

Disclaimer: We do not own Pokemon and Bleach.

Chapter – 8

*slash!*

*clank!*

*crash!*

Many of the pokemon inhabiting an area of a forest scurry and high tale away from the loud noises and the threatening battle commencing within. Every bug type hides and every flying type flew distance away from the area of such an event in fear.

It was an evening, and it was a hectic one for a pokemon that many would consider an unusual one. A black Charizard that was currenly facing off three cloak humans.

"GRAA!"

"Protect!"

"Water pulse!"

Yes, the Charizard was an unusual one with black scales and dark flames making any observer bewildered but none would neither ignore the three hooded people.

The three hooded humans screamed danger and unnatural. They could keep up with the powerful pokemon and counter their attacks. Attacks only pokemon should be able to use.

"What is with this pokemon?!"

"If it wasn't this strong, we wouldn't be trying to capture it, idiot!"

"Stop pausing you two, I can't keep using Protect on and on!"

The Charizard was relentless as it rushes in with Dragon claws attack and despite fighting like a berserker it had the clear mind to counter, evade, analyze and plan the next move. It has to be known that the pokemon was annoyed at best right now.

The three voices made the pokemon realized they were all women but it did not stop as this wasn't its first encounter with hooded people. It dismissed their powers only pokemon should have and their goal to capture it for reasons unknown to it did not pique its interest either.

"Look out!"

"Dragon Claw!"

"Ice Punch!"

They kept encountering misfortune these days, every mission they had the past four months ends up in failure and this time it was going to be the same too.

Yes, they have fought dozens of strong pokemon with their power bestow upon them like many within their organization. They even fought Charizards and even won one-on-one battles but this time it was not the same.

At first, one of them fought the dark color pokemon and almost lost within seconds until another joined the fray until all three had to fight with an inch of their limit to even the odds. The result was that at least two of them had to attack simultaneously to deflect one of its attacks while had to figure out how to attack while searching for a blind spot as well as used any defensive moves to protect them at times.

"THRASH! Take this, and this, and this! ARGGH!"

"Stop that, it's smarter than you think!"

One of them was annoyed at their continued misfortunes and thus quickly rushed in with a powerful continuous attack all of which the dark Charizard acted calmly with blocking and evasion before slamming the woman with a quick turn and slam of its tail.

"It's no wonder none before we even succeeded this mission. This pokemon is too strong."

"I know… it's not just using moves. It's using some kind of basic martial arts to fight. Who one earth teaches a bulky pokemon like a Charizard hand to hand techniques!?"

The three women were part of an organization that had targeted our hero the moment he was known using powers unknown to their world, powers that could disrupt everything. Unknown to others, they also had a part in the explosion that almost killed Ichigo prior a year ago.

"…" The pokemon just stood at a distance glaring at them, sizing them again and again for details and ways to fight with simple tactics. It was being careful and it was overwhelming despite never using its flame attacks from the start of their fight.

*sniff*

*sniff*

"…"

For a while, the pokemon despite its overwhelming advantage over them smelled something weird in the air but ignores it and fights on until it could sense something was wrong. The black Charizard's body started to stiffen.

"You really are a monster, but it seems the Stuns spore is finally kicking in."

The one that was acting as support from the start had been continuously using Stun spores any chance she got, but only enough to be invisible to the naked eyes at times. She called him a monster since it should've been affected a lot earlier since it was enough to stun even a huge herd of Rihorns.

"Finally, we got you."

"Quickly get the dark ball out and catch it."

"Oh, the pokeballs that could even capture already caught pokemon huh? Where did the higher-ups even get them?"

"…" The pokemon didn't falter or show any helplessness as it closes its eyes. One of the three realized they need to act fast at the calm pokemon.

"Hey, is it getting hot here?"

"Shut up and throw it! We can't let it escape!"

"Here we… go!"

*!*

The black Charizard had closed its eyes while dark flames started igniting from its very own body. After some steam came out of its mouth along with flashes of dark flames it quickly caught the dark ball as if it was a reflex before the ball melts on its claw.

"The hell!"

"No one said it could do that! Are those scouts even doing their job!?"

"…."

The three were getting tired. Aside from attaining the ability to used pokemon's moves with a particular procedure they also have very high stamina on par with some strong pokemon. Not to mention that they were also some of the above-average move users within their organization.

Yet, they truly again met another monster that caused them to fail another mission assigned to them.

With their teamwork and balance moves between themselves, they could even take powerhouse pokemon but this one was too much for them.

They needed to retreat.

"Abort mission?"

"Yeah…"

"Can't be helped."

The three then quickly surrounds the pokemon that did not move from his position as they knew it could overwhelm them in speed and thus decided to move for an evasive plan of escape.

"Hydro…"

"Blast…"

They moved users but it wasn't absolute since they will lose the power of pokemon moves if they were to use one of the strongest attacks certain specific types of pokemon can use. Thus, two of them decided to use such attacks while the supporter plans for their escape upon the chance that came by.

"Oi, is this why you were taking your damn time?!"

"huh?"

The supporter who was supposed to plan their escape upon the other two powerful attacks turned to the voice and saw someone about to swing a large blade made from something she could only tell as pure raw aura.

*!*

"Aaahh!"

"What now!?"

The two who were about to launch a Blast burn and Hydro Canon as one of the steps for their escape were suddenly disrupted and blown away by a powerful gush of wind and aura along with their third member.

Only Charizard who quickly shielded itself with its powerful wings while planting the claws on its feet hard on the ground was able to be unaffected by the powerful gush of aura.

"This is what you were doing after saying you volunteer to get firewood?"

The one who swings the powerful gust was Ichigo. He only came here when his black Charizard volunteer to get some firewood for their campsite for the day. But only to found it leisure picking fights was what he assumed was going on.

"Grrr…"

"You're saying, you're not the one who started it?"

"Grrr!"

"I would believe you, but remember what happen yesterday?"

"Grrr."

While the two were round abating who knows what, the three who were blown away painful on some trees and rock got back to their feet, albite with difficulties.

"Get up, we've failed and need to head back quickly."

"Aghh…"

"I can't…"

They were beyond exhausted and apart from the supporter of the three, both women groan in pain since they were blown away while exerting every last bit of their powers.

But they needed to get away since he was here. The person that came back from a near dead-state and the sole reason for this mission.

Do not let him reunite with his pokemon was a failure.

"Swam…"

"Draa…"

Two pokemon suddenly came out of the two women, a Swampert and a Druddigan before groaning in pain and eventually disappearing into wisps of light.

The powers the two had come from merging with those pokemon and the two pokemon's end was the cost of them exerting to their limits. This was a terrible process of attaining and the consent of the pokemon didn't even matter.

"!?" The one still standing quickly invokes Protect before her two teammates but she too was very drained to properly put up one.

*Boom!*

It came to them so suddenly and it was too powerful. Dark flames that explode upon contact with her shamble of a Protect.

*!?* She might've protected them from much harm but the shock wave from the point-blank explosion blasted the three off into the sky.

"…" Our hero didn't say anything and came closer to the spot where the three hooded people were blown away.

"It's okay you two."

His hands were now patting the air even his pokemon was slightly surprised but knew something of it.

"…"

"…" Where Ichigo was patting, were the two pokemon that wither away into specs of light earlier due to the hooded people's actions. The souls of the Swampert and Draddigan.

"Sorry, I couldn't save you two but you're free now. You can pass on."

As he finished his words, the two pokemon souls close their eyes and finally disappear to wherever spirits go in this world.

He was not a bit surprised at this development and he knew it won't be the last time he had to witness such a thing.

He was a soul reaper before a being that guides and protects the souls to the next life in his previous world.

Even in this world, he could still see them. Ghosts, souls, and those like from his previous world but no hollows exist in this realm. The power to guide them to the next life was still within him too. But now, what just happened left a bitter taste in his mouth as he scowls.

"Let's head back."

He didn't need to chase since he could sense them long gone. Someone must've taken those three back and it was pointless for them to give chase too.

"And next time, capture them so we can get answers."

"…" Charizards nod solemnly still thinking about the two perished pokemon, knowing how the unbearable pain to those who will miss them.

Our hero let this one go. A gut feeling was telling him this won't be the last of their encounter.

Blackthorn City

The blackthorn clan situated itself further north of the city. Its location was elevated to a degree where almost anyone could see within the said city.

As a clan, it was known to have several clansmen all being dragon-type trainers and it's well known for producing great pokemon trainers, an example being the current Kanto league Champion and their very own Blackthorn city gym leader.

*SLAM!*

"Old man, I'm back!"

Well, despite its prestige and standing, there was one person who didn't give a crap. Especially, when he was in a hurry. It wasn't because he was a rude person. No, it was more to the fact that he couldn't leave the clan unless the clan leader convinces at the fact he reluctantly abides by.

But today he now had reasons which was the life he had regained during his trip to Charific Valley.

"Always a grand entrance Ichigo-dono…"

The clan's gate Ichigo kicked open knocked out a clan sweeper that had unluckily been near the gate. He didn't seem surprised since it was a known fact how intense Ichigo can be which everyone in the clan knew.

"Ah, sorry about that."

"Why do you keep doing that? Are you going to be a buffoon till the end? *huff*"

Clair who seems annoyed for some reason walks past Ichigo and deliberately shoves his shoulder as she heads into the head house without even glancing at anyone on the way.

"I'm… back! Too…!" Gunther came in with sweat dripping down as the stairs to the clan were always a hard task for him to walk.

*!*

The younger boy drops down in front of the still down sweeper who wasn't even trying to get up since it was a hard day for him too.

"Hey, Carl."

"Hey, Gunther. How did it go?"

"It was good. Good…"

"Stairs?"

"Yep, Slam open by Ichigo for the 50th time?"

"Yeah, I know he means well. But you know, the stairs are like 30 steps Gunther."

"I know, right!?"

Gunther got up and heads to his room in the clan. His trip back was too exhausting for him. Leaving them, he needed his 'me time.

"So, this is the place where you've been living?"

Daisy calmly looks around in amazement at the grand clan's home. It was a very traditional household that very interested her to a degree.

But more importantly, this place was where Ichigo has been living for a few months from what she was being told. She could guess some things about how he's been living up till now.

"Yeah, I guess." Helping the one he knocked down, Ichigo casually replies as he wasn't all that impressed anymore.

"But if we were talking about where I was living up till now. It's right over that small hill."

"Where?"

"There."

"Where?" Daisy just played stupid and look in a different direction as she took a step near him with a cute smile.

"Right there."

"Still can see Ichigo~" She was having fun at the frustrated look he was making. She always did things like this back a few years ago and she doing it more recently to albite in a more intense.

"Alright, just come with me."

*grab*

"Oh my."

Grabbing a surprised Daisy, Ichigo heads to where he had been living. He wasn't going to play her little game anymore and since he still has time, he's bringing her there before it gets old.

"haha… I wonder if she's, his girlfriend."

"Not if I can help it."

"Ah!? Clair?"

The sweeper Carl watches the clan heiress rushing toward said direction with vigor and annoyance.

"Never a dull day with him around." The boy smiled to himself as he remembered all the incredible stuff that has happened with Ichigo staying in the clan.

"…"

"….."

Carl just wanted to sweep and return to his other daily choirs but right now he was nervously sweating as he slowly looks at the overwhelming pokemon before him.

*gulp*

A black Charizard!?

"Grrr…"

Out of terror his body subconsciously just pointed in the direction where Ichigo and the others went. He couldn't stop looking at the terror wondering if it was even a fire type than a dragon type.

"T-There."

The pokemon glare was indeed very overwhelming and he wasn't sure but it felt like he did something bad to it for its dangerous expression.

But in truth, the black Charizard has a very low opinion of humans except for a few cases like Ichigo.

"I need to lie down…" He just wabbles his way to his room as today was too intense for him to handle.

…

"Ichigo my boy, I see you've finished the task at hand. Good, good."

Sitting upon a double cushion sited on the elevated area of the main hall an old man welcomes our hero and friends from the task he had given them.

"Yeah, I almost died too."

"I see."

"And I also got some of-!"

"Some of your memories, I presume." The old man still smiling calmly cuts in and finished his words. It was something he had expected the moment he sent him and his granddaughter to the valley.

"How did you?"

"It's nothing strange my boy, the great dragon Rayquaza sent its promise, and thus I had predicted this outcome."

The other night while many did not see but the great sky dragon again descents on the clan's ground where it came to fulfil its agreement and grant upon the clan the prosperity it promised upon. This event to the head of the clan tells his duty to cover for the young orange hair lad was done and free to go.

"Clair what are they talking about? And did your grandfather just talked about Rayquaza?"

"Oh, I can explain!"

"No Gunther, let me," Clair interjected, shooting down an excited Gunther who could only push out a blackboard.

"I like to hear this too." Daisy who was also present and from her spot near Ichigo voice out her interest in the topic."

She did come here instead of going back home to give the good news for this reason. What happened to Ichigo the past year? She asked him too but he wasn't sure either and just explain how he woke up in the clan.

"And who might you be deary?" The old man just now recognizes the presence of Daisy, as he was to focus on the topic at hand.

"Yeah, I never said you could enter this important meeting." Clair didn't like the girl and the reason was still eating her good mood.

"Sorry for barging in, my name is Daisy Oak." Daisy politely bows and ignores Clair's pushy demeanor.

"Wait, you knew all along?!" Ichigo was sure now that they had held out details about his sudden placement within the clan.

"I believe Ichigo and Clair might've already mentioned me but I like to state that he's really important to me." Daisy Oak winks cutely to the old man making him a little flustered.

"Ahaha… I see I see. Such a lucky young man." The old man couldn't help being flustered. Daisy was quite the beauty.

"Okay, you perv. Move along." Ichigo and Clair glare menacingly at the old man who was getting carried away. Clair's reason was different from Ichigo's.

"*ahem* Now, I'll explain." Clair finally prepares

The girl then explains that Ichigo was never found by the clan like they had told him but rather was given to them to cover for him until a certain point in time. He was brought to them unconscious like coma-state with no injuries and was asked to look after until he wakes up and when he desires to go out.

The most amazing thing about it was how Ichigo was brought to them by Rayquaza. A dragon pokemon that was only known through myths and known as a great powerful being by the Blackthorn Clan. This was also failed to mention to Ichigo by the clan to protect him from any more confusion. But now that he has regained some semblance of his lost memory, it was a good moment to finally explain things.

"…"

"It seems your not please."

"Of course, I'm not! Those were very important little details that made a lot of difference!"

Clair and Gunther also felt a little guilty since it was only Ichigo in the whole clan who didn't know about something that concerns him. They wanted to tell him but they had given their words as the rest had.

"I'm sorry Ichigo, it was something we agree upon with the great dragon. It was for your safety."

"Like I care about that. You know how frustrating it was!? Just waking up with no memory. Only strangers around me and everyone was trying to fight me without explaining anything!"

Ichigo was mad, but maybe his anger was from something else. This truth was kind of a trigger that let him release some steam. He glances to glare at Clair and Gunther too but made no further to continue.

"Truly Ichigo, I'm sorry on behalf of everyone in the clan."

"Let's not forget, two people tried to kill me the moment I woke up."

Ichigo couldn't forget that event. He was furious back then and it took quite a lot for the clan to calm him down.

"Yes, that incident. Two of our people were switched for the intruding caretakers assigned to you when you were still in a coma. It was an error we… I regret."

"I apologize again!" The old man slams his head and poses a dogeza to show his seriousness of the event that took place. He was the head of a great clan and yet he bows in apology, his people were also surprised at the old man who never did such an act before was doing it before a young man they only knew for a few months.

"I-!" Ichigo wanted to say he wasn't done, that everything was such a shitty thing. But in truth he was just frustrated being here in this world, a world he was not originally from. Yes, he accepts that he died but why was alive in another world and away from his love.

His anger was totally out of place and he knew it. But he couldn't help it. Fortunately, someone had a thing to say too and stops him.

"Ichigo!"

"…"

"….."

Daisy stops Ichigo's rage for a moment and pulls his face near hers. Her expression showing seriousness while him being surprised.

"I know you've every right to say those things and more. But please Ichigo, don't forget they are the ones that took care of you when you were most vulnerable and look after you so own."

"Ah-!"

"Don't say anymore. Yes, I know things might've been different if you'd known about the important details but we both know you wouldn't come to that conclusion, either way, right?"

"I…"

*hug*

"You might not remember much but believe it or not I know much about you Ichigo. You're not much of a sweet tooth, you scowl a lot but you mean well, you might complain a lot but you still do the right thing by the end of the day, your response and always take what's coming bad or good."

"But most important of all, you always someone I… anyone could rely on."

"So please Ichigo… please."

She begged him; she might not understand his frustration but she always been there to see him suffered. But she doesn't want him to stay at the point where he can't hold his anger even if he has the absolute right to do so.

"…"

Ichigo got up and made his exits out of the room. He was in a mood right now. Secrets were kept from him and he didn't feel like staying before the old head of the clan.

Clair and Gunther could only stay back in guilt. They wouldn't know what to say to him even if they chase after him.

"I'll hear you out, on his behalf." Daisy bows apologetically at the old man who only nods back.

…..

Our hero sat down trying to calm his rage as he stares at the two small shards on his palm. The very same ones that helped him regain memories about the black Charizard and the Oak girl.

"Hey, anything to talk about what I did back then?"

Ichigo didn't go far as he sat at the first casual sit, and Charizard joins him without any question. He was pissed but when Daisy confronted his anger, he didn't what her to see his anger for some reason.

His sudden question surprised the pokemon but it thought about his question. Ichigo never asked them any much detail when he somewhat remembers them back at Charific valley. It wasn't his style after all.

"I'm not saying I want to know everything. Just some part where… I'm not so tense."

"Char?"

"Yes, some stuff where I'm enjoying myself."

"Charr…" The pokemon then sat flat on the floor beside him and spoke a single word as if it would be enough for him.

"My family you say…"

Ichigo closes his eyes and leans back on his pokemon as support. He thought about the idea of a family that wasn't his father and two little sisters. His grief over the failure that was his previous life still lamented on him.

"What she said… What Daisy said… She knows me and I know her. Yes, I remember you, her, and yet." Pulling himself off the floor to stand up.

"It still feels different and not to mention the gaps in my head. *sigh*"

"Charr?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna find the others too. And you're helping me, got it?"

*!*

The pokemon nods happily and accepts. If Ichigo was doing something it too will follow despite any hardship because there was no other it would risk everything for.

"But… I'm still pissed." He sat back down and mull over what was kept from him by the people in this clan.

He was in a position where trying to stay calm was impossible. He was a stranger in this world because he did not belong in this world. So, how can he take things easy, and yet he only kept his mouth shut for Daisy who plead to him.

"?"

"I know they mean well but…"

I've lost too much already… It's not easy to just let things go.

He thought about his failure again, he failed never knowing the outcome. This was his greatest regret and it will haunt him until he gets the right answer.

He has too much on his plate to live a normal life. That what being kept reminded of in his head.

His life before, his unusual circumstances, the attackers he knew not of, and the lost memories of this world he lost but can be regained.

Right now, his anger subsided a bit only to be left with sorrow.

"Ichigo, how are you feeling?"

Daisy came to him after the conversation with the clan head was over. Her voice was ever so soft as he called out to him.

"I'll be fine."

He felt a little guilty for Daisy since he just left things to her, "So what more did the old man had to say?"

"About that…" Daisy sweatdropped a little since it was even troublesome to her, "He wants you to go to the Dragon's den and retrieve something before you can come with me."

"…" She waited for him to complain but it never came. She had been watching him struggle for too long.

"Typical, the old man is a slave driver after all." Ichigo casually groans knowing all too well what the old man had to say.

"…" Daisy exhales in relief, she wasn't too sure what drove him earlier to be so mad but seeing him calm down and more relax. The girl was glad.

"Did you do something?" She smiles at the black Charizard who could only respond with a shaking head.

"Hey…"

"Ichigo…"

While he was preparing to go out and do said task from the clan head, Ichigo was met up by Clair and Gunther.

"Don't give me those sappy looks. I'm not that mad anymore."

He didn't exactly go but he was a little better after a quiet time to himself. So, he has at least forgiven the two since they were the only few friends he had here in the clan since almost all the other clan members were a bunch of pricks.

"…" The two were a little surprised but said no more.

"Let's go, at least help me out this one last time before I head off."

Ichigo just went ahead as they willfully follow behind his footsteps.

And done!

Harem:

Cynthia

Elesa

Courtney (A girl who's profession was only to listen orders until our hero came into her life and along with him came others. She is obsess about Ichigo and likes Zorua her new partner, her bestie Shelly and Delia, the second person to truly care about her well being just like a mother.)

Diantha

Daisy (The older girl who cares for Ichigo so much that it turned into something more. Seeing that he had what she lacks the girl left most things that regards to social interaction to him while she focus on her path only to realized she rely on him too much. In her guilt, the girl realized their was something more about him that she came to love.)

If we're gonna add girls from Galar. We're not too sure.

Girls who have a crush on Ichigo but might be added into the Harem or replaced one of the original harem girls:

Clair (The girl that will attend to his injuries for the time span of his coma like state.)

Lillie (The girl just had those normal crush on him after saving her family from the Ultra wormhole.)

Alexa (Sorry about the earlier chapter, accidently typed Viola rather than Alexa.)

Caitlin

Bye!