So, it's been nine years. I apologize for the wait. I've been unable to access my account for at least 3 years. I'm posting what I'd written and the rest of the notes.
When I started writing this at 15 years old, I had no outline, just a feeling. I'm both happy and sad to share this last bit of Lost Heart with you all. Thank you for reading all those years ago.
Lost Heart
Long have I been in darkness
My heart gone for far too long
One more piece I've yet to share
Good memories there belong
You have done well, Ichigo. You have remembered your heart. I kept you safe until those who could help found you. Your hollow and Zanpakutou are awake and eager for battle, to avenge and to protect you. Because now you are healed, you are stronger than ever.
Your will is strong. Your heart is strong. I listen to them. In turn they make me strong. The more I listen, the stronger I feel.
In time, you will listen to me and hear what I long for.
We will grow stronger together. We will become more powerful. Those around us will distract us and drag us down. We must rise up, high and untouchable. A danger is coming; we must be stronger than that danger and crush it when it comes. You must listen to me when the time comes. You must fulfill my wishes as I have fulfilled yours. You must listen and hear my voice.
So listen now. Hear me.
Can you fulfill it?
Can you?
Ichigo?
LISTEN TO ME!
A great city loomed overhead, towers and tall citadels stretching high into the clouds. Battlements—damaged from the siege—were full of troops on standby, all staring at the invaders below. All was eerily silent within its walls, though the tension could be felt as a steady rumble, shaking the air every now and then.
The Captain Commander, Yamamoto hardened his grip on his cane, his eyes narrowed at the field before him.
Thousands of soul reapers stood clustered in groups, separated into squads with their captains in charge. Squad 1 was—of course—at the front. The Stealth Force took to the back and was wide spread throughout all Soul Reapers. Squad 11 took to the front flanks, though seemed a bit too eager to charge than hold their positions. The rest of the divisions were holding positions encircling the Royal City. It was noted that the only squad missing from the invading force was the 12th, but they were back in the soul society analyzing the enemy and sending tactical information.
They were strong and prepared for this. Yamamoto had made sure of that for the last two years. It was the least he could do after the traitorous, egoistic, weak fools took to power. There was a time where there was no need for noble riff raff, a better time under military rule, a time he now wishes would come back. But mistakes of the long past cannot be undone, and he has made so many, this he knows.
His fellow captains had decided that he would be declared Soul King after they'd removed the previous ruler. He understood why.
Many people were angry with him for following through with Central 46's orders for the destruction of the Vizards, in particular the ever popular Ichigo Kurosaki. In all honesty, Yamamoto was surprised so many obeyed the order; he was even surprised with himself. However, the fact was he listened to and went through with Central 46's orders, even when he was second guessing his decision, was the deciding factor.
There was also the component that he knew how the Soul Society ran, and therefore, he could better work with and interact with their system and people. The current king, unfortunately, was incapable of caring for his position.
It was dishonorable and unforgivable.
"We hold here till morning," he told his lieutenant, "inform the other captains to be on high alert. The enemy may be nursing its wounds now, but that does not mean a counter attack isn't a possibility. Tell Captain Soi Fon to send scouts on the mountain behind the Royal City, see if we can find a weak point in the walls."
"Right away, Captain Commander Sir!"
A wind swept across the plain, sending a chill down his tense spine. He prays that for once, he made the right decision.
"The winds of change are upon us. For this, we have Ichigo and Neliel to thank," Yoruichi inclined her cat head towards the former king Hueco Mundo and now Cero Espada. Neliel smiled slightly, looking slightly strained while Ichigo blinked in a clueless manner. "The Captain Commander has taken the situation in his own hands and is leading a siege to the Royal City, all squads participating. He has created new laws before heading off to battle, one of them dictates that nobles, no matter how great a clan, will never have— I quote—"law enforcing power due to how uneducated and inept they are unless they have earned the right through seated positions in a Soul Reaper Squad and not by birth…" So you see," Yoruichi turned to Rukia, "the only way nobles can have any power, will be through the Soul Reapers directly. It may be a bit harsh, forcing military rule, but I find it quite amusing. Such a fuss everyone has made, but all who's left to complain to is Mayuri. So any noble, no matter how thick, won't dare come within a kilometer of the Captain of the 13th. It's funny how things turn out."
"How did my brother take it?" Rukia asked, rather taken aback by the turn of events.
"In stride I suppose, he was the one who helped write the law in the first place," Yoruichi purred contentedly, "I imagine it settles a few disputes in the Kuchiki Clan, does it not? It also gives you power in your clan, Rukia, as you hold a lieutenant position in your squad. That, I think, might have encouraged him."
Ichigo snorted. "I don't think Byakuya knows what he's doing, giving Rukia power like that. The poor clan elders won't know what hit them."
"They've all had it coming," Rukia said, a happy smile filling her face. "Besides, if brother thinks it's for the best, then I am honored to go through with it."
"I don't mean to be rude by interrupting," said Uryu, purposely pushing up his glasses to make them gleam in the moonlight, "but doesn't the fact that the Soul Society's invading mean that Urahara sent you here to recruit us?"
"Yeah," Renji agreed, "if we're going to fight and all the divisions are already fighting then let's hurry back to help!"
Uryu scoffed. "Speak for yourself, I have no intention of getting involved with Soul Reaper buis—"
"Shut up, Uryu," Ichigo cut across the Quincy's speech, cuffing the boy on the shoulder, "I swear, if you pull another one of your stupid "I'm a Quincy" lectures—" leaning close, his voice dropped down to a whisper so only Uryu could hear, "—I'll tell Orihime who sent her those secret admirer letters 2nd Year. Besides—" His voice was loud again as Uryu paled then flushed with embarrassment, "We all know by now that you do in fact care, Soul Reapers or not, and you'll get involved anyway. So shut up and let's go!"
The Quincy spluttered, unable to form a coherent word before Chad patted him on the back.
"It's fine, Uryu, we understand you have an image to uphold."
"That's beside the point!"
Chad shrugged and grunted.
"In any case, we move to Urahara's shop in the meantime to get organized."
"Mind if we tag along?" Gin asked as he stepped forward towards Yoruichi, "It's been rather dull the past 2 years…"
Harribel shrugged off handedly, "If I can avenge my kind by fighting against those who orchestrated this mess, I'll be glad to offer my services."
The black feline tilted her head. Her sly, yellow eyes stared from former Espada to former Captain.
"Suit yourself. Just don't cause trouble; Kisuke's hard enough to deal with."
Ichigo's eye twitched, "Are we leaving, or what?"
"Patience, young Ichigo," Yoruichi reprimanded her former student, "I was getting to that. Follow me."
The cat then flashed away at a quick pace, causing those who were slower to be dragged by others to keep up.
"Kisuke opened a portal too high in the air…again," Yoruichi called as she dashed up in the night sky, "We couldn't pinpoint Ichigo's spiritual pressure, so we just had to open a random portal. Luckily, hell's chains had disappeared a few moments prior and we could estimate where you lot were."
"Hell's chains?" asked Ichigo, looking stricken.
"We'll save that story for later," snapped Yoruichi, "stop lagging behind, everyone!"
"It's Renji who has poor control over his shunpo, he's slowing down!" Rukia called, gleaning an indignant grumble from said Renji.
"No worries Renji!" said Ichigo and he flash stepped back and grabbed his friend by the scruff of his uniform.
"Oi! I'm not that bad—WOAHHHH!"
Renji was yanked along as Ichigo used his obviously superior flash-step and caught up with Yoruichi.
"Letting old age get to you? Since when did you become rusty at flash-step?"
"Shut it, kid. Since when did you become so snarky?"
Ichigo shrugged, "I just feel great, that's all. Is it wrong for me to be cheerful?"
"You get cheerful?" Nel asked, interested as she flash-stepped beside them and sounding genuinely curious.
"Don't you have an image to uphold?" Uryu snarked from behind, keeping up with ease with Orihime riding piggyback.
"Yes," Orihime agreed happily, "Ichigo has to keep up his persona of being grumpy and full of teenaged angst. Tatsuki told me all about his different kinds of frowns he's had over the years and his last current one was the 'I'm-not-telling-you-anything-because-I-am-a-big-stupid-jerk' frown..."
"The...wait, what?"
"It was a direct quote," she assured him.
Ichigo sighed, "Never mind. We have more important things to focus on...like...that fast incoming spiritual pressure signature?!"
Yoruichi had come to an abrupt halt, causing those behind her to hastily pull their feet under themselves.
A two solitary figures appeared in front of the group dressed in pale, worn gray uniforms. An unfamiliar symbol marked their upper breast. But most strange of all; where their faces would have been, were singular hollow holes.
"Greetings," Yoruichi called out. "What brings the Protector Reales all the way out here? Do I need to pass Soi-Fon a message?"
Hueco Rey's guards stood motionless. Their empty faces pointed in the groups direction.
Ichigo Kurosaki, the being of three worlds, we have a message to deliver to you from our lord, Hueco Rey, seer and ruler of Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo blinked and looked at his friends to see if they heard the voice too, but everyone still seemed puzzled and concerned with the latest apparition in front of them.
What is the message? He thought back to them as hard as he could as he had no idea how it worked.
A better time, a better world will come from these current evens. All three worlds will prosper and flourish, but you will never see it come to pass. Ichigo Kurosaki shall be confined and bound to a cage for the remainder of his days. If is he is left to wander, he shall destroy everything he holds dear and precious to him.
A great evil lies within you, that which has allowed you to evolve into a perfect creature of three worlds and live until now is your undoing. Now that it has tasted your soul it will never leave until it has consumed everything that your are in mind, body, and spirit.
Remove the Hogyoku from your soul, Ichigo Kurosaki. Do that, and your friends and family might still live happily.
A small feeling a dread filled Ichigo's heart as he slowly looked down to the top of his chest not hidden under his shihakshou. The hogyoku laid nestled, visible from his sternum. To his horror, he felt a pulse from it in response to their words before it disappeared into his body.
He gulped and glance back up. The visitors bowed, turned, and disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. Yoruichi's ears perked up then turned back.
"Let is leave this place."
So this is where i stopped writing all those years ago. What follows is the notes I wrote for the remainder of this story. Thank you for reading.
The hogyuku is in Ichigo's command, creating him into a "perfect being". Because of this, the Soul King wants him dead. Hueco Rey (hollow king) doesn't care and lets Ichigo be, actually enjoying seeing the Soul King getting thwarted. Jigoku Osama (hell king) is a more laid back sort of person and is the wisest out of the three. He actually visits Ichigo and invites him to stay in hell (without the suffering) so he would be able to live his life out in peace without everyone trying to kill him. This generous offer is made because Aizen landed up in hell and is a "thank you" for Ichigo's effort in sending him there. Harribel, Gin, and Nel come with Ichigo after he agrees to "make things interesting" in case hell got too boring.
Perhaps Ichigo's will to win was stronger than Aizen's. Or perhaps his heart was more pure or his wishes are more interesting. Also, probably the most probable reason for this is his advanced growth rate and ability to adapt to his Soul Reaper, Human, and Hollow parts. Anyhow… the hogyuku took to him and is currently located within his chest.
Harribel, after Aizen's defeat, injured and barely alive, used the Arrancar version of Konso with her zanpakuto on Ichigo just after he died, saving him his form, memories, and power over the hogyuku although the memories will return later. The side effect was that this almost turned him completely hollow. He still retains some of his human and Soul Reaper side to him, just hidden deep within in order to protect him from the Soul King's awareness.
Gin then saves Harribel as Byakuya is about to kill her, using kido to escape, going into hiding for 3 long years, knowing Ichigo would evidentially return to Karakura town.
The Soul King used Central 46 to issue manslaughter of all hollows created by Aizen. This included arrancars and vizards. This was an attempt to discourage anyone else from rising up in rebellion and to kill Ichigo who the Soul King believed to pose a threat to destroy all three dimensions, having abilities from all three.
The vizards fall, all of them until Hirako and Ichigo are left, back to back, fighting the enemy from all sides. When they finally got Hirako, Ichigo continued on, fighting them all. But it proved to be too much. They impaled him from all sides. But in spite of that, he was able to escape. If only briefly. He wanted to die where his mother died. Byakuya followed, feeling remorseful and pity. He did not want to be the one to tell Rukia about what he'd been ordered to do.
Urahara was sent to Hueco Mundo to replace Kenpatchi, Byakuya, and Kurotsuchi and to make sure he didn't help the Vizards. Rukia, Renji, Uryu, Sado, and Orihime were also made to stay in Hueco Mundo until the 'danger' had passed in the World of the Living.
Ichigo woke up in Hueco Mundo three days after he died with no memory. He stood in the exact same spot for one year and seven months. Nel then was able to reach him after training like crazy to 'help' the new chosen Espada. It also helped that Ichigo could not use half of his power due to him not able to master all elements. They wandered around for one year and three months before traveling to the World of the Living.
After receiving word that an Espada appeared in the World of the Living more powerful than Aizen, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are mobilized. The Head Captain himself, along with the captains Byakuya, Soifon, Shunsui, Ukitake, and Komamura. Renji, Rukia, and Uryu remain as communications in case things go south.
It is concerning that such a powerful foe was somehow missed during the "cleansing" of Hueco Mundo.
Urahara figures out that the reason for the cero Espada's terrible power is no other than the hogyuku fusion. But it was seen by everyone how Ichigo shattered the hogyuku in Aizen's chest. So it remains a mystery why the Espada would have a hogyuku. It is assumed that Aizen created another hogyuku incase all did not go according to plan. This theory changes when it is reveal who the cero Espada is.
Everyone one is shocked when they realize it's Ichigo they're fighting. Ichigo is unconcerned with the Soul Reapers' reactions and leaves to Hueco Mundo with Nel. Saying it was boring fighting Soul Reapers who could not match his power. He then apologizes for alarming them by coming to the World of the Living and states he won't come again. He leaves without any explanation of his return from death. Byakuya keeps what he had seen (when Harribel performed Konso) a secret with the exception of Rukia who demanded her brother for information.
A team for gathering information is then organized composing of those familiar with Hueco Mundo. It comprises Rukia, Renji, Uryu, Sado, and Orihime to learn more on the enemy, although they all want to search for Ichigo for private reasons.
Isshin was banished and stripped of his powers by the royal guard because the Soul King feared his potential. Nothing personal, but if you had more power than the Soul King, it's basically a death sentence. All in an effort to preserve 'order' and 'balance'. So, not wanting to kill Isshin, they took away his powers.
Unfortunately, his son, Ichigo had even great power then his father. Something the Soul King did not foresee and did not come to his attention until it was too late. Ichigo was on the brink of possessing immense power. Greater than anyone else before him. It was for this reason, the simple reason for existing, that Ichigo was murdered for. When word reaches out that Ichigo is alive…somehow. The Soul King reacts by sending Royal Guards after Ichigo, nearly killing him again. But they are stopped thanks to Gin, Harribel, and the Protectors Reales. Close to death yet again, the trauma Ichigo was experiencing causes his memories to return, having him go into a state of shock. Gin then places a few sealing kido (Bakudō) on Ichigo, restraining his spirit energy entirely. This however, causes great pain for Ichigo, making his spirit energy highly unstable.
Ichigo, Gin, and Harribel greet the band of Ichigo's friends once Ichigo recovers. They find Nel among the mess of dead. Neliel describes her time with Ichigo and his loss of memories and how she played along, even though he was no longer himself to protect and hide him. They also determine that the Protectors Reales are up to something and have already been to the massacre site. Yoruichi joins up and informs them of Central 46's corruption and the Soul King's current takeover of the Soul Society. How Central 46 has been dissolved and that Head Captain Yamamoto was nominated for Soul King. An invasion of the Royal Dimension is underway and an alliance between the 13 Court Guard Squads and Hueco Rey against the Soul King.
Yoruichi requests that Ichigo stay in Hueco Mundo and to stay out of the fight. While he would be a valuable asset to their forces, it would prove troublesome since he is a known target of the enemy. Ichigo replies, stating that it was his return that started this uproar in the first place, and he should take responsibility for setting things right and he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he did nothing. Yoruichi reluctantly agrees, but only as a backup unit if things look grim.
Ichigo reunites with his sisters who are in hiding with Isshin, along with Ryuuken and Urahara. Neliel and Harribel sit calmly in a corner and discuss the relevance of Shinigami and humanoid hollows. Orihime and Ishida go to the injured and Squad 4 to protect and heal all they can. Rukia and Chad stay with Ichigo and talk about his time gone and what will happen after the war is over.
13 Court Guard Squads and the Royal Armey are at a stalemate.
Hueco Rey meets Ichigo with his Protectors Reales and tells him of a better time and a better place will, come, but Ichigo will never take part in it. That Ichigo will never benefit in the outcome of the war and will be confined to a prison. He warns Ichigo of letting the Hogyoku stay in his chest, and that only evil will come from it. Hueco Rey leaves.
Ichigo, greatly troubled and convinced that all the problems for him in the future will come from the hogyoku, tries to remove it. But the hogyoku completely fuses with Ichigo, making it impossible to do anything to it. It also temporally paralyzes him with pain for attempting to remove it from such a delicious strong-willed person. It tells him that though Ichigo wills for it to leave, it will not comply with that one and only request, nor will it allow Ichigo to die. It threatens to take control and hide his body until the war is over. It mocks Ichigo, then releases him.
Horribly shaken, yet unable to say anything about it to his companions, Ichigo goes with reinforcements. The Soul Society's forces have penetrated the walls of the Royal Palace, but are being pushed back with help from the Soul King himself. Ichigo duels him, is badly beaten, then comes out, just barely on top. The Royal Guard surrender and Yamamoto is made Soul King.
But all is not well.
The Hogyoku tries to urge Ichigo to fight more. Ichigo becomes angry and manages to tell Urahara about is situation before succumbing to severe amounts of pain. The hogyoku, fearing for its situation, takes control of Ichigo's body and locking him away in his mind, and attempts to flee.
Jigoku Osama comes and stops Ichigo and manages to subdue the hogyoku. He explains that Ichigo's soul is incredibly damaged, so much so that he's dying. That there's only one way to save him, however, in saving him, he would be forever bound to hell. Ichigo's friends agree in the bargain.
Ichigo says good bye to his family and friends.
Nel comes with Ichigo, as do Gin and Harribel. They will also act as messengers for Ichigo, so he can communicate with his family and friends.
Once in hell, the hogyoku tries to manipulate Ichigo's hollow into manifesting. However, it is quickly removed from his body and thrown into a pit of lava, far away from any damned souls. Forever destroyed.
Ichigo is then healed with chains and strange magma, holding his soul together.
Life goes on.