Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo/Shonen Jump. I do own OC and plot.

Author's note: Sorry for the late chapter. New Year, New month and things have been a bit hectic. As a resolution, I'm hoping to post chapters more frequently. I tried to end off this chapter with a shocking reveal, and I hope you all like it. Also, thank you to those who have read and commented om this story since the very beginning. I had no idea that people would read my nerdy bleach fan fic, let alone comment on it. I really appreciate it! Please comment below on what you thoughts are, and what do you think will happen next :)

The Soul King Part 1

Kohana Pov:

Standing in the corner of Aizen's throne room (or what was left of it anyway), I could barely find an opening to zap Hisana with my zanpakuto. My twin brother, Kaien, and Hisana were moving so fast. It made it damn near impossible to see who was winning. It was like pinpointing where a strand of lightning would strike next. But the more I watched my brother and Kaien fight Hisana with all they had, the more jealous I've became of her.

"What stamina ..." I breathed, eyeing the fight before me. "How is she still fighting?" I took more spiritual pressure than Ayahiko-sama asked for, hoping to at least show him how worthless she was of his love. Yet, despite all that, she still managed not only to keep up with her brother but had enough power to make an escape, defend, and throw some pretty powerful attacks right back at whatever foe she's faced with.

I was watching Ayahiko-sama's reactions of the Kurosaki sibling battle. When Hisana walked into the courtyard in her white haori coat, Ayahiko's eyes lit up like if was his birthday. My heart drop into the pit of my stomach. Shortly after, I rolled my eyes after she did that fire spin tornado attack, It wasn't all that impressive, but when I looked at Ayahiko-sama. He placed a hand on his cheek as if he was completely in a daydream, no doubt about Hisana. I keep telling myself that she's a lab rat to him. Eventually, lab rats will lose their purpose. But when she surprised us all when she hollowfication and hollowfied getsuga, Ayahiko-sama was smirking. Smirking!

When the dust settled and she ran off, not a hint of anger was in his tone; not a hint of fury on his face. Instead, he laughed like it was all some sort of funny joke. He even at the audacity of giving her a compliment after what she just did to him?! My blood was boiling like kettle on a stove.

He's never said anything about my accomplishments. I've never made him smile or laugh at my jokes or comments. Worst of all, his eyes never lit up when I walked into a room nor looked at me with a sense of longing and love. Hisana is a clumsy, dumb human girl whose only talent consisted of ice skating and remembering various animes.

So, what does she have that I don't? Why is he so intent of keeping her and nerd Hansuke apart?

Could it be that he actually loves her? I thought as my vision faded as I realized that possibility. He-he really loves her, doesn't he?

"Kohana!" My brother screamed as he pushed me away from an attack and shouted. "Bakudo # 81, Danku!" A white barrier appeared which protected us from a wave of fire. He looked down at me, panting. "P-pay attention! You only have one chance to make this right!"

I got up and shook my head. "I'm sorry. It's just you guys are moving way to fast!"

He slumped his shoulders, clearly exhausted from this battle. "I-I know." He breathed. "How the hell is her spiritual pressure increasing?! Is it her Bankai? But that makes no sense….the hollow mask is still disappearing, so her pressure should be on empty."

Kaien appeared next to us, panting himself. "The moment she activated her bankai something has been off with her. It could be possible that she inherited my father's... no -wait a second." He squinted his eyes then titled his head down to the floor, giving her a glance over from toe to head. "Shit." He muttered as he slapped a hand over his eyes. "Shit. shit. Shit. How could I be so stupid!"

"What is it, Kaien-sama?" My brother asked as we turned our heads to our left and saw Kaien turn in the opposite direction and started running towards the door. Kaien has never run away from a fight before. Kentaro and I shared a glance, unsure what to do.

I cupped my hand and shouted, "Kaien-sama! Where are you going? The fight is this way!"

"Kohana with me, quickly! Kentaro deal with shiro!" Kaien-sama yelled back, then vanished from view.

My brother turned around, eyes widening in realization. "Of course…" He breathed, following a hearty laughter. "Ah, Hisa-san. Hisa-san. You never cease to amaze me.."

I bit the side of my lip, feeling a huge vein pop from my forehead. Great. Now my brother is in love with her too?! I irritatedly thought, but if this isn't the real Hisana. Kentaro shouldn't let his guard down for a second.

I took a step forward. "Onii-"

"Be careful, Kohana." He said getting into a stance. "Don't let me down, okay?"

"You too, nii-san, and I won't." I replied and quickly flash stepped away and started following Kaien spiritual pressure. When I looked back at the doorway, the entire room bursts into flame. I know I shouldn't be worried about Kentaro, I know he can handle himself. But whoever this shiro is, they're pretty powerful.

If anything happens to my brother, I'll make sure Hisana pays for it.

Hisana pov:

( A 10 min Flashback. Hisana's mind, specifically her inner world.)

"You would waste your-our chance of survival for-" Gesshoku and my hollows voice said simultaneously. It was a rare sight to see them intertwine their souls, and it was a beautiful sight to behold. Her black and white floor length hair flowed as if it was underneath water. Her Heterochromia eyes- one of silver the other gold stared at me intensely. Dressed in a red blood kimino and in this form, I often mistook her as celestial goddess rather than a spirit that was a part of me.

"When accepted this quest, I came here not only to save the future, but to also save those who lost their way which includes Ayahiko." I said to the two spirits residing inside me. "I'm not asking for the secrets of the final getsuga tenshou or anything, but just for a chance. A chance for me to change his mind."

"Y-you don't even know if he-"

"What other choice do we have?!" I said in a harsh snap. "I tried it your way and look where it got us!" Seeing the shocked expression on her face, I sighed and lowered my tone. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you.. I know you were trying to help, but let me try my way. I'm sure I can reason with him."

"But he is manipulating you, don't you see?" They whispered. "You're playing right into his hands, right to a fate worse than death."

I laughed which was wholly inappropriate, but then my lips pursed into a thin line. "So what if I am? I don't care. I don't care if I live, die, or am strapped to a chair and tortured for the rest of my days. As long as Hansuke is safe and far away from here, there is still a chance for the future to be fixed.." I swallowed. "You saw my dream; you saw how he looked. The very least I can do is try. The old Ayahiko is still in there." I hoped.

My sword turns away. "Very well. We shall grant you this one request, but don't say I didn't warn you."

(End of Flashback/present.)

I could already hear the voices in my head of my uncle and Hansuke yelling at me, telling me what a foolish choice I've made or-rather of the foolish choice I'm about to make. I wouldn't be mad or blame them, because I am foolish-naive. To think that someone like Ayahiko had feelings for me and that he loved me. To think Hansuke; my best friend in the whole world who would never keep a secret from me kept the greatest secret of all. And worse of all, my brother; the one person I've admired most, he betrayed everything our family stood for and believed in. There is still much I do not understand, and so many of my questions unanswered.

I should have paid more attention when Kaien and Ayahiko were explaining things, but I allowed my anger and sadness to block their voices. I only heard the bits and pieces: Hansuke and Ayahiko created the Kuronosu. Hansuke lied to me. Ayahiko brought Kaien back by changing his fate. Then, Ayahiko used the Kuronosu to change reality's fate. But why? What's the reason? What is his true goal?

I followed Ayahiko's spiritual pressure back to the courtyard where I challenged Kaien. A strange place to be if you ask me, but Ayahiko is an unpredictable being. The first words I say to him must unravel and surprise him. I couldn't give him any chance to use his zanpakuto or the time power on me. Gathering the words in mind, I was about to walk up to him when a deep, velvety voice said,

"You saw this coming, didn't you?"

I froze and quickly hid behind a piece of rubble from the fight earlier. Pressing my face against the corner, I peaked out with an eye and saw it was Aizen. His back was towards me with Ayahiko in front of him. I took this time to thank Hansuke for creating the charm bracelets earlier because both of them would have felt my spiritual pressure the moment I entered the courtyard.

"Why, are you upset?" Ayahiko said quite sassly. I couldn't help but smile at his response.

Aizen sighed and surveyed the destruction around him. "No. I don't really care much for this place or what happens to it."

Ayahiko scuffed. "Among other things." He whispered, probably meaning himself.

I had forgotten that Ayahiko's mother abandoned him as a child in the poorest districts of soul society. Wandering alone, Ayahiko had to fend for himself day by day like my mother who was abandoned by my Aunt whom I'm named after. But unlike my mother, Ayahiko didn't have friends to rely on to survive. I still remember the scrawny boy in my uncle's mansion standing in the entrance and hiding behind my brother like a frighten toddler. Who knew that one day the frighten boy would become the most cunning, vicious, and powerful mastermind in history with the power only a god could control.

I shook my head. That's silly. Ayahiko's powers couldn't rival a god's like the Soul King. The Soul King was still alive in this time. No doubt in my mind, he's probably watching us or has foreseen this happening. Precognition is one of the soul king's ability much like the golden trinket Ayahiko sports around on his neck, but the trinket allows the wielder to change history and shape it to whatever from they desire. Precognition can only allow the soul king to simply see the future and not do anything to change it. All he could do was levitate in his crystal, making sure all the souls are going where they suppose too and see the future every now and then.

Man, I sure hate to be him. Not because soul society put a restiant on his rule and powers, but being forever trapped in a crystal like a songbird in a cage, having no freedom? I'd go crazy.

"I am rather disappointed the fight ending quickly." Aizen said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I would have liked to see more of Ichigo's children were capable of and others powers they may possess. They're quite fascinating."

"Kaien can't hollowfy if that's what you're wondering. He did not inherit that power nor does he desire it." Ayahiko said in a snappy tone like he was angry.

I frowned and looked away from them. Guilt instantly washed over me as I pressed my body against the cool stone. No wonder he looked so traumatized of my transformation. I thought as my free hand hovered over the left side of my face. Seeing my mask, especially with the red markings, it must have reminded him of that hollow that killed him and his squad or our father.

"Hisana is different." Ayahiko continued. His voice a bit softer. "Her powers are advancing at a quicker pace than I anticipated. The shadow manipulation on the battlefield, and the clone her brother and my subordinates are currently fighting with. They have no clue that it is her zanpakuto in her stead."

My head shot up. W-what?! T-that's impossible! There's no way he could have known that! A shaky hand dropped to the hilt of my blade on my left hip, unsheathing the long blade. What the hell am I doing? So what if he knows! Makes it easier on me, right?

Neither of them seemed to notice my presence. A smart shinigami captain would take this chance for a surprise encounter, but Suke and my uncle would tell me to run. To run or take this chance to talk to ayahiko? That is the question. I closed my eyes and saw through the eyes of my doppelgänger. My hollow and zanpakuto were doing well with keeping their opponent occupied. Wait, why is there only Kentaro? Where is Kaien and Kohana?

Panicking now that my brother and Kohana is missing, I opened my eyes and looked back at Ayahiko and Aizen who were still talking. It was now or never, I suppose. No going back after I made it this far. I stepped out into the light, sword still in hand in case either of them get clever. I licked my lips, ready to make a grand shocking entrance. Before I had the chance to say my witty line, Ayahiko said to Aizen, "My hypothesis is correct. I've made no error. Kurosaki Hisana is the reincarnation of the Soul King, and you're going to help me harness that power."

Speechless, I dropped my sword on the icy floor. The metallic clunk from the drop made my presence known. "W-what?" I said instead of my intended words.

"Hisana!" I heard Kaien scream.

From the corner of my eye, a cero went off, heading straight for me. I didn't have time to pick up my sword nor flash step. With a cero that fast, it wasn't an ordinary one. Out of instinct, I shielded myself with my hands and closed my eyes, waiting for the impact. A rush of energy filled the air, then a soft ring echoed. Everything went quiet expect a single voice.

"Hisana." Ayahiko's voice said, his tone coaxing me to open my eyes.

Lowering my arms, I opened my eyes and gasped. "W-what...did you-" I looked towards the red beam that was still-motionless in the air as if Kaien had freezed it in place. However, there was no ice keeping it in the midair. My eyes darted at Aizen. His neck slightly turned in my direction, but he wasn't moving either. He looked like a statue. They all did. I glanced at the left and saw my brother and Kohana in mid flash step. Kaien's mouth was open like a codfish. Kohana's hand was at her hip as if she was going to reach for her zanpakuto.

"Hisana." Ayahiko said again.

I turned around and found him standing a few inches away from me. I squeaked as he took another inch forward, and I took a half step back. A cold, wet sensation went up my spin. I touched the back of a wall and realized it was an ice stalagmite.

"Why, Ayahiko?" I asked, gazing up at him. "Why are you doing all this?"

"The answer is quite simple, Hisana." Ayahiko frowned, outstretching a hand towards me. "I'm protecting what's mine." A flash green bursts from his palm, and my entire world went dark.

Questions to Ponder:

1. What the heck is Ayahiko talking about? Hisana is the next Soul King?! Do you believe what he is saying is true and that he still has feelings for Hisana, or is he a lying, manipulating scumbag who never cared for her and just wanted her hidden powers?

2. Where the heck is Hansuke? Is he planning a daring rescue, or is he still crying his failures?

3. What do you think will happen to Hisana now?