With Aizen bound and sealed into the lowest prison, Muken, Seireitei attempts to rebuild and reorganize. Busy days mean he can put off thinking about Aizen's inevitable escape. His knowledge of future events have long since ran out, but he knows the type of story he's in.
Kurosaki losing his powers is tragic, but he has his own problems to deal with. For whatever reason, Captain Muguruma keeps him close alongside Lieutenant Kuna, and he's usually running around putting out the fires they cause.
"These guys are wimps," Captain Muguruma scowls.
9th division's training session doesn't meet its captain's expectations, and he winces as a small Soul Reaper gets sent flying by an enthusiastic, equally tiny lieutenant. He can understand Captain Muguruma's scorn; his division is mucking up worse than newbies.
"Tōsen did a lot of damage," to their abilities, to the heads, to their feelings, "and I think you're confusing them. They weren't this bad last time."
"Confusing them?" The words sound like an angry echo, but the captain is simply prodding for a more in-depth explanation.
Holding the division together with tears, sweat, and plenty of metaphysical duct tape doesn't make for fully functional Soul Reapers. Captain Muguruma's way of running 9th division is completely different from Tōsen's, and it's making them stumble around blindly.
"But they all believe in protecting. The 'what' is different to each of them, but you can see it in their eyes. How they're not giving up no matter how badly they're doing," he says.
As his Soul Reapers continue to stand through their injuries, a small feeling of pride wells up inside him. No matter how terrible their wounds are, no matter how stupid they are, these are his people who refuse to stay down.
"Come on, kid. Let's go work on your Bankai and leave Mashiro to them," Captain Muguruma suddenly says.
"What, why?" He squeaks out as a hand grabs his waist.
Captain Muguruma pulls him away from the training area and into a nearby forest. He can do nothing when he's in this type of hold which the captain full well knows. Damn him for learning such a nasty trick.
There's no point in arguing once Captain Muguruma dumps him on the ground and points what looks like a knife at him. He knows better of course; that knife is Captain Muguruma's Zanpakuto in its Shikai state.
"Hold back and you're dead."
He gets exactly one warning before the ground explodes. Thankfully, his skills in shunpo leave him uninjured, and he's quick to meet Captain Muguruma's blade with Kazeshini's own released form. A cackle rings out in his head, and he can't stop the bloodthirsty grin pulling at his lips.
Fighting against Captain Muguruma is so frightfully intoxicating; it's not possible for him to hold back. He tries not to think about why that is.
He doesn't manage to draw blood, but Captain Muguruma does go into Bankai to slam him into the ground. He considers it a win even as he lies there unable to move.
"How do you not have Bankai?" Captain Muguruma mutters with narrow eyes.
These training fights set up by the captain get rougher by the day. He likes to think it's because he's improving, but it might be because he's pissing off everyone who works hard to help him achieve Bankai.
Considering both the captain and the "super" lieutenant are growing impatient, he doesn't doubt he'll be facing their wrathful masked forms soon. He wonders if their hollows scream as loud as Kazeshini.
"Captain, do you realize that my Shikai is double-bladed? One end is pointed to the enemy, and the other side is pointed at me," he says out of the blue.
There's no way his captain doesn't know, but it's a fact that escapes most people despite it being so obvious. His Zanpakuto wants blood, and it doesn't care whose it is.
"Let's get you back to the room so you can sleep it off," Captain Muguruma sighs.
Captain Muguruma throws him over his shoulder like a sack of rice, and he does his best to keep his hands from touching anything. He retreats into his inner world when it gets too, ah, hard.
"Weak. Stupid," Kazeshini scolds while pulling on his cheeks.
Kazeshini puts him in a headlock and continues to belittle him. He sighs and lets the Zanpakuto do what it wants. He might give Kazeshini too much leeway, but he knows when to dig his heels in. Kazeshini wants his inner world to rain blood, but the sword spirit will just have to keep wanting.
"We should slit the annoying one's throat. Have him all to ourselves. Then we should bleed him dry," Kazeshini croons in his ear.
"We like Mashiro," he reminds the spirit dryly, "and I don't think killing the people you like is the sane way to deal with things."
Here, in his head, he calls nearly everyone by first name. The only one he doesn't dare to utter is Captain Muguruma's. In his inner world, he is completely honest with his Zanpakuto and himself, all but for one thing.
"Kazeshini, has it woken up yet?"
His inner world is what you'd get if you slammed the 9th division, Rukongai, and the American Midwest together. In the plains area, under a ragged tree from Rukongai, is a skeleton wrapped in a buffalo blanket. He used to think it was a product of his grief-stricken mind, but it's begun to move recently.
"It continues to sleep," Kazeshini reports before whispering something in his ear.
"Are you sure you should be telling me that?" He asks but the Zanpakuto doesn't waver. "Your dedication to killing is a sight to behold."
He hopes he never has to use his new knowledge, but the spirit only laughs at his thoughts. If there's something terrible coming, he has no other way to prepare for it. Frankly, trying to keep up with Mashiro and Captain Muguruma is a monumental task that consumes most of his days.
...
How long can he keep on pretending? He's heard of Soul Reapers having breakdowns over going into battle with the people they're infatuated with. Maybe it'd be best if he—
"Is something bothering you, Shūhei?" Captain Komamura asks.
"Nah, it's nothing. Just thinking about something stupid," he says, avoiding the captain's eyes.
Long after Tōsen's death, he somehow keeps going out for a drink with the captain. There's something soothing about Captain Komamura, and he hopes the other feels a little less lonely with their frequent bar trips.
"Could you be thinking of Ichigo?" Captain Komamura prods tentatively.
"I'm sure that idiot's fine," he says as a non-answer.
He's been thinking of trying to leave 9th division actually, but it'd be trouble if Captain Komamura questions the why. The wolf-like captain is the only one besides Captain Muguruma that can get him to spill his secrets. He has a soft spot for dogs apparently.
As if hearing his traitorous thoughts, his own captain begins awkwardly praising him during work. Captain Muguruma pats him on the back—hits more like it, he thinks with a wheeze—and lets him know how valuable he is by dumping more and more paperwork on his desk. He doesn't know what to make of it.
"New assignment," Captain Muguruma grunts at him. "Head to the gate. You're going to the human world."
"What's the details?" He asks, tidying up his desk with a frown.
"Classified. You'll get your assignment as soon as you get there," Captain Muguruma says, tone a little off.
Warily, he goes to get his power limiter stamp and a Hell Butterfly. The most anyone says about it is Lieutenant Kuna, who wishes him luck with a very strange smile. He travels to the World of the Living and tries to figure out if he's done anything wrong.
"Hello," Urahara Kisuke meets him with a grin and wave of the fan. "How were your academy scores?"
Yeah, this is going to suck.
...
He can't say the human world is exactly as he remembers it; he never went to Japan, and the memories of his old life have become blurry over time. Still, the modern houses, roads, and lights give him nostalgia. He drinks it in while he waits by the school gate; he wasn't able to the last time he was here.
"Oi, what are you doing here?"
It's said more out of surprise than the irritation he expects. Kurosaki's hilarious gaping face can't hide the dark circles under his eyes. He crosses his arms and pretends he doesn't care.
"I'm vacationing, isn't it obvious?" He says with a huff.
Kurosaki's expression changes to one of dubious quality. When it looks like Kurosaki is leaning towards believing such a stupid statement, he opens his mouth to make a less sarcastic response.
"I'm here to help you get your powers back obviously," he lies with a straight face. "Now show me how to do the school thing. I don't have a clue."
Kurosaki immediately brightens, and they're trading insults like they see each other every day. Truth be told, he doesn't actually know why he's here. The only thing Urahara said was to, "keep Ichigo company while your overprotective captain beats up everyone requesting your transfer, simple ne?"
Obviously, that means his mission is so secretive, he's not to know anything about it. Because being sent to the human world for such an inane reason can't possibly be true.
Kurosaki shows him where to go to get his school schedule and where the offices and bathrooms are. Neither of them is in a rush to get to class.
"What happened to your tattoos?" Kurosaki asks.
"It's a custom gigai. I put down the request to have one made without the tattoos a long time ago." He can't help but think Urahara tampered with this one though.
Ah, yeah, before he forgets—
"Let me stay with you while I'm in the human world," he says.
"Are you trying to mooch off me? You Soul Reapers are all the same," Kurosaki scowls.
"Do you want to stay with Urahara?"
There's a pause as both of them recall the man with the hat and the wooden clogs. He tries to picture waking up every day to Urahara waving a fan with a mad glint in his eye; he shudders. Kurosaki must picture the same because he grimaces.
"Hope you like closets," Kurosaki says.
"What, too ashamed to have someone so sexy in your room?" He bites back.
He'd feel bad about Kurosaki's room being considered a Soul Reaper's luxury suite, but Kurosaki doesn't actually seem to mind. He looks around for a loud plush toy he vaguely recalls, but doesn't find it. When Kurosaki actually does try to shove him in the closet, he puts the guy in a headlock until they work out a better agreement.
Of course, since he's living so brazenly in the Kurosaki residence, he has to deal with the rest of the family. He'd been gearing himself up for a confrontation with Kurosaki Isshin, but one glare from Kurosaki had the man giving him a quiet, "You're welcome to stay."
No, the real trouble was the sisters.
"What is this?" He asks blankly.
Taking in the streamers and the decorated cake on the table, he says goodbye to his day off from school. Kurosaki was supposed to take him to sightsee. Visiting an internet café will have to wait another day.
"Our big brother is so much happier now that you're here. I thought we should celebrate," Yuzu says with a bright smile.
"Don't get a big head. You're not that important to Ichigo," Karin scowls at him.
Two faces—one angelic, one demonic—convince him that if he wants a peaceful life, he'll have to stand here and celebrate Kurosaki's happiness. He doesn't know what he did to deserve this.
"I didn't think he swung that way. Guess I should have known when not even Orihime's boobs did anything," Karin mutters under her breath.
He pretends not to hear as he stomps back up the stairs to grab Kurosaki.
Of course, he can't spend all his time with Kurosaki. There doesn't appear to be any threats, and it's not healthy for either of them. Reluctantly, he allows Urahara to use him as free labor. He does put in a request for necessities such as more clothes, money, and a cellphone.
He didn't need the phone, but Seireitei doesn't know that. Urahara hooks him up, and he has something to fiddle with during the lulls in school. His manga keeps getting taken, but this device is so much easier to hide.
"Give me your phone number," he says, flipping his phone open.
"I don't want to," Kurosaki says flatly.
He kicks the chair leg out from underneath Kurosaki. There's a brief fight after that, but it ends up with him getting Kurosaki into another chokehold. Without his prompting, one of Kurosaki's friends rifle through his pockets for his phone, and he gets both Kurosaki's phone number and email address.
That is, of course, another thing he must deal with: the friends. Kurosaki's completely human friends pretend he's always been there but keep a wary eye on him all the same. Kurosaki's friends that go into battle with him, who actually know who he is, are downright weird.
"Don't think we don't know why you're here," Ishida warns him with shiny glasses.
"You got me. I lied to Kurosaki. I'm only here so he can cry on my shoulder," he deadpans.
"I don't think Ichigo cries," Sado muses.
"The poor aliens with their experiment," Inoue gasps randomly.
When they aren't bugging him about getting Kurosaki's powers back, they alternate between treating him like a respected Soul Reaper and, well, one of them. Considering he regularly becomes the victim of a drive by fashion expert, he doesn't know which is worse to be honest.
If he were to compare what the next two months in the human world feel like, he'd say it feels a lot like a daily life arc. He promptly hides that thought away because only bad things happen after daily life arcs. He'll just enjoy his part-mission, part-vacation while it lasts.
"How's Rukia and Renji?" Kurosaki asks him quietly.
He keeps his eyes closed and wonders if anyone knows that Kurosaki gets so damn chatty at night. He regrets putting the futon so close to the bed; it makes it easier for certain people to keep talking.
"How should I know? We don't exactly hang out," he bites out. A painful silence follows, and he sighs. "But I heard they're busy trying to find a way to restore your powers. They must care about you a lot."
The silence isn't quite so heavy after that. He almost manages to go back to sleep.
"How come you're not like the others?" Kurosaki questions. "Rukia didn't know what a juice box was, but you didn't even have to ask."
It's a good question; he probably did take to life in the 21st century better than most, and he didn't have it in him to pretend otherwise. With so many vending machines around, how could he? They have everything. Maybe he can convince the 12th that they'd be a worthy investment.
"I'm just that amazing. Now shut up and let me sleep," he says.
Kurosaki doesn't ask again after that, but the midnight conversations don't seem to lessen at all. Damn needy mutts.
At least school isn't too bad. He's terrible at math—that'll never change—but without the pressure of needing to do well, he actually enjoys some of his classes. For the classes he doesn't, the teachers give up on him after he gives one wrong answer too many, and he either doodles in his notebook or visits his inner world.
"It's awake," Kazeshini hisses in his ear.
The skeleton wrapped in a buffalo blanket is sitting up now. Its teeth grind against each other, and he gets the feeling it's staring at him even without eyes. Kazeshini refuses to go anywhere near it.
"Kazeshini, let's make the most of it," he says without understanding the words that leave his mouth.
"We'll take the blood of fate itself," the Zanpakuto agrees, and he knows he's missing something.
He puts it out his mind for now. He gets the feeling that his peaceful days are at an end, and he wants to enjoy being human for a little while longer. Unfortunately, it appears Kurosaki's friends do their absolute best to mess things up for him.
Inoue calls him to the school roof during lunch break, and before he can even question it, Inoue congratulates him on a successful love life with a fragile smile.
"I," here the girl looks worryingly tearful, "I hope you and Ichigo are happy."
"What," he says.
Inoue bursts into a rapid-fire list of "wonderful things about Ichigo and what to do to make him smile." He's completely overwhelmed as the girl keeps spitting out things he never wanted to know about Kurosaki.
Even though his brain feels like someone took a sledgehammer to it, he gets it to work long enough to understand what Inoue's getting at. He puts a hand over her mouth when it appears she's never going to stop.
"We're not together," he says, grimacing at the thought.
Soul King save him from the teenage drama.
"Look, I know you like him. Everyone knows. Only the idiot in question hasn't noticed," he says, stepping away from Inoue who looks at him with wide eyes. "But how is he supposed to notice if you don't tell him? You're afraid of being hurt, but will it be worse to see him with someone else knowing you never tried?"
"I," Inoue trails off.
"Take some time to think about it. Spend some time just talking to the guy if it'll put things in perspective."
"I can't do that! He's busy and—" Inoue waves her hands in a fluster.
"Relationships need a foundation. If you can't communicate with him here, you won't be able to communicate with him later," he says ruthlessly. "Just go talk to him. Do you think so lowly of him that he wouldn't make time for you?"
He leaves her on the rooftop and decides to skip the rest of school. He sends Kurosaki a message and leaves to find a quiet café. It's only when he's sitting down, sipping on bitter coffee, that it hits him.
Well, shit. He's going to have to take his own advice, isn't he?
He makes the resolution to confess to Captain Muguruma. It'll end horribly of course; he doesn't have a chance like Inoue. But he needs to know. If it had simply been a crush, he could have easily put it out like the small flame of a candle.
After having spent so much time by his captain's side, he can safely say it's not a crush. Love is an emotion that sticks and no amount of distance or time can stop it. Not even another lifetime takes it away.
He'll probably end up transferred to another division. The thought hurts, but it's probably for the best.
Maybe one of Kurosaki's friends can offer advice on how best to approach this. He doesn't exactly have friends of his own. Inoue, the clueless girl is out. That leaves Sado, Ishida, and Tsukishima. His phone rings.
"Shūhei, where are you?" Kurosaki asks, voice desperate.
"What happened?" He's already running back to Kurosaki's house.
Kurosaki meets him before he gets an answer, bumping into him and grabbing onto the front of his jacket like it's a lifeline. One of Kurosaki's friends catches up, and the hands on his jacket grip it so tight he thinks the material will break.
"Ichigo's mind has been messed with," Tsukishima warns. "He thinks I'm dangerous."
"Don't listen to him, Shūhei! You don't actually know him," Kurosaki begs.
He removes Kurosaki's grip on him, and Kurosaki looks at him in betrayal. He tucks the phone away in a zipper pocket. He looks at the fragile, concerned face of Tsukishima and considers things. He punches Tsukishima in the face.
"Okay, Ichigo. What am I fighting against here?" He sighs.
"You believe me?" Ichigo gapes.
"You're an idiot. A thorn in my side. A mutt that keeps coming back. But I'll side with you every time. Even against the people I love. Even against the captain," he states, keeping himself between Tsukishima and Ichigo.
It probably sounds more heartfelt than it should; he's only following "Kurosaki Ichigo is the main character" logic. It doesn't make his words any less true, but he's not exactly leaping on blind faith.
"He's a Fullbringer. They have powers—I, it's how mine have been returning," Ichigo tells him with reluctance.
He had thought that was Urahara's doing. Oh man, he's in for a very big reprisal once he hands in the reports. His attempts to leave his gigai get waylaid by two swords aiming to take his head. He finds himself pinned to the ground as Kazeshini screeches death threats.
"You would mess up my plans Soul Reaper," the man stepping on his neck spits.
"Shūhei!" Ichigo calls out in a panic. "Stop it, Ginjō!"
"I'll have to move my plans up," Ginjō says darkly.
He's suddenly stabbed through the back with a blade, pinning him to the ground. Somewhere above him, Tsukishima laughs. He loses focus, and he only gets pieces of Ginjō's lengthy monologue.
Ichigo screams, and he takes a deep breath. Gigais are simply holders that contain the spirit. There's nothing chaining him; there's no need for a pill to push him out. He can leave anytime he wants.
Through sheer willpower, he manifests outside the gigai and slaps Ginjō away from Ichigo.
"Get to Urahara," he orders, but the powerless Ichigo can't see him.
Tsukishima and Ginjō drive him into a corner by targeting Ichigo, and he knows he's on the losing end. If he truly believes in Ichigo's power as the main character of fate, then there's only one thing left to do. Kazeshini grows silent in his head, and he takes it as reluctant acceptance.
"I'm going to want this back," he says, standing behind Ichigo.
Pulling up all his power and pushing it into his sword, he stabs Ichigo. In a flash of light, it feels like every ounce of energy he possessed is gone. Spiky strawberry blond hair pops out against a black uniform, and he passes out before he can see the rest.
Standing in the plains area of his inner mind, under a ragged tree from Rukongai, is a skeleton wrapped in a buffalo blanket. It points at him.
"Die," it rattles with a familiar voice.
"Well that's not ominous at all," he says.
The skeleton doesn't move after that, but no matter where he goes, its bony finger stays pointed at him. He doesn't fear it though; the skeleton feels like it belongs here, somehow. With nothing to do, he begins cleaning up. Brushing dirt off a mat is harder than fighting his captain, but he enjoys the challenge.
"We could have ripped their eyes out," Kazeshini appears with a sneer.
"It wasn't our battle. We can't break the chains of fate. Not yet," he says.
With Kazeshini back, that means his powers have returned to him. Which means Ichigo won or else he'd be dead. Leaving Kazeshini to curse by itself, he braces himself and wakes up. He comes to in a dark, empty room. He's lying on an infirmary bed with his Soul Reaper clothes.
He's been tucked away somewhere in the 4th division. Explosions and screams echo all around him, and he realizes something important. There's nothing stopping him from turning back and staying in bed. No one knows he's up. He won't be held accountable for not reporting for duty.
He goes to find his captain.
A mirror on a wall stops him in his tracks, and he stares at the skeleton wrapped in a buffalo blanket pointing at him.
"Die a worthy death," the skeleton says with clacking teeth.
Without meaning to, he reaches out to the mirror, and he suddenly finds himself in a strange place. With purple sand trailing on endlessly under a starless night sky, it's definitely not Soul Society or Earth.
A structure resembling a castle juts out as the only thing here. A long straight staircase goes from the sand to its roof. He climbs it slowly, steadily. With each step, the memories come back, and he knows what he's supposed to do.
"I don't understand. The Soul King was right here!" Yhwach shouts.
In front of the man is Ichigo, covered in blood and holding a sword defensively. Ichigo's eyes dart around, and he supposes even he's confused. How strange it must be for fate to suddenly be wrested out of everyone's hands. The only thing left to do is for him to take control of the story.
"Bankai," he says, and a chain wraps around his neck.
"Shūhei?" Ichigo gasps.
"You think such a thing can even affect me? From such a lowly person as yourself?" Yhwach says, batting away the chain reaching for him.
Unfortunately for Yhwach, any attempts to steal or destroy his Bankai are nullified in this place. A chain latches onto his opponent, and a cage of chains keeps Ichigo away from them. Kazeshini appears in his hands as twin scythes.
The Zanpakuto's excitement of the grand finale makes him smile. For all that the sword spirit did its best to threaten him, Kazeshini's true powers had always lain in the chains which would heal him if he got injured. Kazeshini's always been a softy, really.
"This is our Bankai," the Zanpakuto had whispered to him, "it will drain you dry, healing both you and your opponent until you find yourselves joined together in death. Use it wisely."
"Let me die a worthy death," he says.
He feels the blanket settle over his shoulders, feels the skull fit over his face like it's always belonged to him. But then, it has, hasn't it? This is the other part of his soul; the part that's still attached to his old world. He's complete for the first time since he woke up in Soul Society.
"I cannot see you," Yhwach says in shock.
"You shouldn't be able to," he comments idly.
His existence is one that currently does and doesn't exist. His very being hangs between one universe and another. Yhwach can't see him because he's currently outside the flow of life, death, and everything in-between.
"Kazeshini, reap death itself."
The command is short and simple, but his entire soul goes to his Zanpakuto. His twin scythes transform into a single large one with the blade only going one way. There's no need for Kazeshini to threaten his life now. This is the end.
He swings Kazeshini forward in a wide arc. Yhwach attempts to kill him before he finishes the slow attack, but everything the man tries phases through him. The scythe pierces the man's soul and rips it in half. It is the twisted face of a man who thought he could never lose that disappears from this world. The amount of Reiryoku dispersing is enough to bring Ichigo to his knees.
"Does the bell toll for me?" He asks as the scythe in his hands dissolves.
His body begins breaking apart, but he feels no pain. He doesn't feel anything as a matter of fact. He thinks Ichigo is running to him, but he can't be sure as his vision grows dark. Is this death, or is he going back home, he wonders. Either way—
"We had a hell of a time, Kazeshini, Ichigo," he smirks before disappearing.
...
A torso of a man morphs into an old woman wearing an owl's mask. Eyes with ever shifting pupils look back at him, and he suddenly realizes he has a body. One of his hands is pale; the other is dark. His tattoos shine in the absence of light.
"Did I do it?" He asks, voice traveling everywhere, yet nowhere.
He remembers now, here in the absence of everything: the Soul King, who saw all of time and grabbed wandering souls to break through the cycle of its own death. There are so many other Soul Societies tied to this one, each with someone trying to destroy its chain of fate. He is but one of many that was tasked to break the cycle.
His first death had shamed him, and he had jumped at the chance to die again. This time a warrior's death instead of drowning in his own vomit. He would die gloriously instead of surrounded by beer cans, he thought. But he feels the furthest thing from triumphant.
"You've done well," the Owl Woman says. "Would you like to go home?"
Home, where is that exactly? He flexes his different colored hands and considers things. A red road shines beneath his feet, and he knows he only needs to walk it to go back from where he came.
"Can I take a raincheck? I'd like to go back, but I'd like to continue living here more."
His regrets are nothing to a deity, but he can't find it in himself to nod his head and agree to die quietly. He wants to see the Soul Reapers learn and change, wants to find out what living without doom hanging over his head feels like. He wants to see where Ichigo's life goes from here.
He'd liked to move on and find love even if that isn't with Kensei.
"Your soul is too weak to go back to Soul Society, but there is an anchor among the humans. When you are ready, I will be here."
So saying, the Owl Woman knocks him off the road and into the black.
...
He wakes up human. No, that's not completely correct. He wakes up in his gigai, powerless, and unable to leave it. He's stuck pretending to be human. His back aches from whatever he's lying on, but his soul aches more.
The quiet strikes him suddenly, fiercely. Kazeshini's disappearance leaves a hole so wide and gaping, he actually cries. For a sword spirit that seemed to do nothing but scream, the silence in his head makes him regret every bad thought towards his Zanpakuto. He wallows until he gets beamed by a bag of trash.
"What the hell are you doing in a dumpster?" The person with the trash demands.
"Someone probably thought I was dead," he answers blandly.
His grief will have to wait. Survival comes first, and he shoves down the memories of Rukongai. He's not that Shūhei anymore; he won't actually murder someone for food, but he needs to get a move on if he doesn't want to head straight back to the Owl Woman.
Evidently his body had not been in Karakura Town, and he walks around skyscrapers and narrow alleyways in an attempt to figure out his location. It's possible that he's near Karakura, but he can't be certain. His senses are as dull as a normal human's.
His phone has been smashed to pieces, so that's out. Luckily, his money is still tucked away in a zipper pocket, and he has an idea.
Internet cafés are a marvelous thing, and it doesn't take too long to find one. He can rent a cubicle with a computer for 24 hours, get a free shower, and have a light snack for no more than the change on him.
Stealing some tourist clothes from a nearby shop, he showers before settling into a large office chair. He sends an email to Ichigo with the café's street address, so optimistically, it shouldn't take too long. Assuming Ichigo checks his email. Assuming Ichigo isn't dead. Assuming—
Yeah, he's just going to go to sleep now.
...
He hangs around the internet café for the better part of the next day. If Ichigo doesn't get him by tonight, he'll start the journey himself back to Urahara's. He really should be making the attempt now, but he's so tired.
"Shūhei." That's not Ichigo.
He lifts his head off his knees and blinks the sleep from his eyes. A man with silver hair glares down at him.
"Captain?"
Those eyes are still so mesmerizing. He tries not to fidget as they scan him intensely. Kensei crosses his arms with a frown, and he wonders if the captain's realized it yet.
"You were unconscious last I checked. When Ichigo came back from the Soul King's Palace, he claimed you were there, killed Yhwach, and disappeared."
"How are you here, Captain?" He asks wearily.
"After I was cured of my own ailments, I came here to look for you. I happened to be with Ichigo when he saw your email. Now explain," Kensei glowers at him.
He's not sure he can. No matter how much time he's had to sit here and think, he just can't come up with a reasonable explanation that makes sense.
"The Soul King gave me a power up?" It's said as a question more than an answer, so he tries again. "I had an agreement to become that guy's special reaper before I even met you."
He hopes the Royal Guard won't try to execute him for the blasphemous words, but it's the truth. He was tasked to kill Yhwach before he was even Shūhei.
"Not that I remembered until it was almost too late," he mutters that quietly before leaning back with a sigh. "My soul's all used up. I can't leave this gigai, or I'll die. I don't know what happens from here, but it was an honor working for you."
For better or worse, he's human now. He should have taken school more seriously, he thinks with a grimace. He'll have to study hard for the exams, figure out what he wants to do in life—oh damn, he's probably stuck with Ichigo's friends for the rest of his life.
"Stop that. We'll think of something," Kensei hits him gently on the head. "Don't think you're off the hook about any of the shit you pulled either."
Kensei pulls him up and hails a cab when his knees give out. He thinks about the resolution he made before everything went to hell. Figuratively, of course. Should he wait on it until a better time, or should he blurt it out now. He'll have to break his heart eventually.
"Let's get you back to Kurosaki's. Ichigo nearly tore me in half when I stopped him from coming," Kensei says, helping him into the cab.
"He what?" He blinks as Kensei slides into the seat next to him.
"Almost lost control of my hollow. That's some boyfriend you got," Kensei remarks low enough so the driver can't hear.
"Some what?" He shrieks, horror striking his heart at the thought. "He's not my boyfriend! I don't even find him attractive!"
He'll give the cab driver credit; the guy's eyes don't even flick to the rearview mirror. Kensei doesn't resist as he grabs him by the collar to pull him close. In sheer outrage, he blurts out in a fierce whisper,
"Is that why I was assigned to keep him company? Don't be stupid. I am only attracted to one person, and that's you."
He has no idea what Kensei's thinking, but the sound of a phone ringing breaks the tense atmosphere. He lets go of Kensei to let his head fall against the window. Whatever happens from here, at least he said it. It doesn't stop him from suddenly wanting to open the door and jump out though.
"Yeah, I found him," Kensei frowns into the phone.
Whoever's on the other end of the phone call is shouting angrily. It sounds like Ichigo. Well, Kensei's too serious to make jokes, but he had hoped the captain had made an exception this once. He can only hope Ichigo won't turn that anger on him.
"Are you sure you're not in a relationship with him?" Kensei snaps the phone shut.
"Definitely not. I don't think my sanity could survive it," he admits. "There's really nothing going on between us. Ichigo's just like that with all his friends."
It's true too. It seemed like every other word out of Ichigo's mouth had been a name of a friend. He'd go so far as to say Ichigo runs on friendship like coffee. What a strange creature that'd make him if that were literally true.
When the cab drops them off at the Kurosaki residence, he doesn't expect the sheer number of people waiting for him. He thinks they're all gathered for something else, for Ichigo, but Yuzu brings out a cake with a bright smile. He belatedly realizes Inoue is snapping a party hat on him.
"No bell is tolling for you yet," Ichigo says, kicking him into a chair.
"How exactly did you do it?" Ishida asks him with crazy eyes.
He takes a sip out of the juice Sado hands him in lieu of an answer. Mashiro swings by to mess up his already messy hair, and Kensei helps him sidestep probing questions from Urahara and Isshin.
Being human might not be too bad, he thinks. Even so, he's overjoyed when the combined efforts of Urahara and 12th division get him his Soul Reaper form back. He's weaker than what he used to be, but he can't bring himself to care. When Kazeshini reappears, he cries once more.
"Weak," Kazeshini scoffs as he hugs the spirit tightly.
Unlike any other time, the Zanpakuto doesn't shove him off. Kazeshini really is a softy when it comes down to it.
There is no skeleton wrapped in a buffalo blanket in his inner world, but there is a small red road that leads on past the boundaries. He knows better than to follow it before he's ready.
In the end, the only ones who know about what he did in detail are the captain-commander, his captain, and Ichigo. No Royal Guard comes for him, thankfully.
Against his expectations, he does not end up transferring out of 9th division even as other squads literally beg for him to. The fact that there is always a paper in his hands even as he sleeps tells him why he's so badly wanted.
Rebuilding Seireitei from the Quincy attack requires heavy lifting and mountains of paperwork, but this isn't the first time they've had to do it. Procedures made from Aizen's attack make things go smoother, and the workload gradually decreases until they can take things reasonably easy.
"Captain, an order from the commander requesting an update on—" the paper is snatched out of his hands.
He blinks as his captain throws the super important orders onto the floor.
"Clear my schedule, Mashiro. We're going on a date," Kensei declares, grabbing him around the middle.
"What?" He squeaks.
"Good luck, Little Shūhei," Mashiro laughs at him.