The Long Forgotten King
Chapter 2
Hey you little wonders, I'm back again. Chapter 2 of the rewrite and I'm happy with the response and that people are willing to read this again.
I don't own bleach, Tite Kubo does.
The Soul King's Palace
The first fight against the Quincy had been an onslaught for the shinigami hierarchy, they were outmatched and outmanoeuvred by the Wandenreich. Byakuya had been lucky to escape with his life and as for Rukia and Renji they were leagues below what was needed right now.
Ōetsu Nimaya's revelation about Renji and Ichigo's Zanpakutos being incomplete was to be a massive help should the two of them be able to hqarness their true swords spirits and new Bankai.
As the two fought in the pit of blank Zanpakuto spirits, Ichigo continued to fall behind the pace set by Renji, irrespective of their difference in raw power and potential.
As the day was drawing to its end Nimaya dragged the pair back out, with Renji having rediscovered his Zanpakuto spirit and that Hihio Zabimaru was actually Sōō Zabimaru. The new ape-like arm and sword ensemble had allowed for the red haired lieutenant to put himself on par with at the very least Captain Komamura's ability.
Ichigo on the other hand had been thoroughly beaten by the Asauchi spirits and was about to be on the receiving end of a good-natured ribbing by his battle-brother.
"See Ichigo, I always knew in a straight fight I'd beat you." Renji smiled as he put his arm around his beaten friend as the pair left the all-healing hot springs.
"I've not felt this powerless in a fight for a long time Renji"
"I'm guessing you mean that time in Los Noches?"
"Could be, but then I was outclassed not powerless, Byakuya, the first time, decimated me when he interrupted our fight. Left me dying on the floor and truly powerless. Like a fight between a rose and an avalanche, whatever initial resistance is futile in the event of an endless, crushing opponent."
"You're just looking into it too much, just see it as it is, you get into a fight you aren't ready for and come back stronger"
"But what if this fight isn't one I can solve by just getting stronger, everyone has a limit, and it seems at this limit even Zangetsu has abandoned me"
Ichigo still hadn't looked up at Renji. Deciding that looking at his friend moping over the situation was getting them nowhere, Renji gripped the orange haired substitute by the front of his shihakusho and lifted him off of the ground.
"Look Kurosaki, I get what it's like to know you're fighting a losing battle and I know what it's like to feel useless, Kuchiki Taicho has made a habit of kicking both your ass and mine."
Renji shook his friend again, rocking Ichigo's head until the pair locked eyes, Renji's filled with determination burning into Ichigo's sullen, dulled, amber eyes.
"So what if you lost Zangetsu, that's not who you're looking for in there, you're looking for your sword. I didn't expect to lose Hihio Zabimaru to begin with yet knowing that it wasn't the right sword but that Zabimaru was still humming with power through my soul meant he hadn't abandoned me."
Ichigo seemed to have gained some realisation as his eyes refocused on his friend.
"So that means that since Zangetsu as I know him isn't calling to me it means he's not who I'm searching for?"
Renji let go of his friend and began scratching his head in thought as the pair walked back to Nimayas palace. "I'm not too sure, it could be a test, or he could have never been your real Zanpakuto. When you gained your powers did you use an Asauchi like everyone else?"
Ichigo thought on it, his mind cast back to the moment he left the pit Tessai had imprisoned them both in.
"No, I always had Zangetsu, he was broken but he was still noticeably the same sword he was until I rushed Yhwach. Hell even when Rukia returned my powers it was him."
The pair didn't talk again on their walk back to the palace, both entrenched in their own minds, going over the possibilities.
They didn't notice when they got back to the palace, but were greeted by the forger of all Zanpakuto.
"Well rested boys? Good because Renji you need to train until the Kuchiki siblings have properly recovered."
"Of course Nimaya-sama" the red-head bowed as he left back to the healing rooms.
Nimaya's attention then turned to Ichigo. "So, no look finding your sword spirit in there?" he asked the substitute.
Ichigo's downbeat expression returned to his face. "No Oetsu, it's like I couldn't feel him calling to me at all. Renji said that when he was fighting he could feel Zabimaru pulling him and coursing through his soul, whereas I couldn't feel Zangetsu at all. Not in my sword, not in my soul and not as any of the Asauchi spirits that were in front of us."
The forger of all Zanpakuto turned and walked to the edge of his palace, looking down at the clouds below. Ichigo followed him and stood by his side, also looking, trying to see what Nimaya had seen.
"You gotta figure out who you are Ichigo, and what your past is."
Ichigo's head snapped to Ōetsu "What do you mean figure out who I am?"
Nimaya clapped his hand on the substitute's shoulder "You'll know what I mean" and with this he threw Ichigo down from the palace, falling through the clouds.
Screaming, Ichigo tried to manifest Reishi underneath his feet to stop himself but to no avail. And as he saw the ground coming into view he realised he wasn't in the soul society anymore.
The bright lights, the cars, the rain and the big River flowing through the heart of it all told Ichigo one thing, that he was back in Karakura town.
As he landed on the ground with a thump, no Zanpakuto and no way of getting back to the soul society to help stop the impending doom that waited for all three realms from the Quincy king and his army in the shadows Ichigo looked around to try and gauge his surroundings. He was back in his normal body and had finally seen where he'd landed.
"Figures" he started, standing up and getting out of the dirty puddle he was in "that I'd end up in front of the river at a time like this."
Looking round there wasn't really anyone near him, bar a lone runner, way off, coming along the pavement.
As Ichigo tried to wipe as much dirt off as he could, his mind wandered back to why Ōetsu Nimaya had sent him back home.
"I know who I am, don't I? I mean surely I know where I come from. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, son of Masaki Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki, I'm a substitute Soul Reaper."
The runner stopped behind him suddenly. "Ichigo, if anyone else heard you saying that they'd think you were either an otaku or insane."
The hybrid turned around only for Tatsuki Arisawa to launch a right hook at his face. Whilst the punch connected, he stumbled backwards, staying on his feet.
"I should've known only one person's stupid enough to run in this weather." He said holding his nose.
"And I should have known only one person's broody enough to sit by the river in this awful weather."
She wrapped her arms around her oldest friend.
"What are you doing here Ichigo, a man in a straw hat said we may never get to see you again, then you're here and in the flesh, not even your uniform you dead people wear. Tell me what's going on."
As he rubbed the back of his head he thought on the matter. "I don't think I really know how to explain. Or hell even where to begin"
"But I think I do"
They broke the embrace as Ichigo turned to see who had spoken, knowing the gruff voice wasn't enough proof at the moment. Sure enough, when he turned around he was greeted by his father, in full shinigami attire, no smirk and no signs of goofiness present.
"I know why you're here Ichigo, Kisuke already sent word ahead that you got Zangetsu destroyed by Yhwach and that in turn you'd find out that your sword couldn't be your true Zanpakuto."
"You did what?" She turned on her friend questioningly.
"Not right now Tatsuki okay" Isshin pleaded, but it was more of a demand than a request.
"So hat-and-clogs knew all along something like this would happen, that hat wearing piece of-"
"Hold on there son, Kisuke may have been involved but all of us; me, Yoruichi, Tessai and your mother are all involved in this, hell even Aizen and Uryu's father Ryuken is at fault at some stage."
Ichigo's shocked expression was understandable, so many people played parts in where he's from? He can understand his mother and father obviously, hell even the Shoten gang he can see, but Aizen and Ryuken-san were strange to say the least.
"When I revealed myself to you, I asked you to wait until I was ready to explain, and now is the time I'm going to come clean, so both of you hold on." Isshin grabbed Ichigo in his right arm and Tatsuki in his left and sped across Town to a park.
Depositing the two to their feet, he took in Tatsuki's shocked appearance, forgetting that it was her first time moving via shunpo, Isshin apologised.
"Sorry Tatsuki, just so used to everyone in our lives having moved and played by our rules I forgot he'd largely kept you out of this life."
Tatsuki's face changed from the stunned whiteness of a newbie experiencing flash step for the first time and turned on Ichigo, face red.
"Yeah you did, didn't you strawberry!" She growled as she thumped him on the arm for good measure. "So why are we here Mr Kurosaki?"
Isshin looked up at the night sky and let out a deep breath.
"Because this is where I met Masaki all those years ago."
*Twenty years ago*Seireitei
All was quiet in the grounds of the tenth division. Shinigami were stationed all over the world at the moment and the captain was visiting his relatives in the Rukon district. Therefore lieutenant Matsumoto was in charge of the tenth and wasn't letting the authority get to her head.
"Now third seat Hitsugaya, I don't think that floor's clean enough yet" she spoke whilst she looked through some of the training reports.
Said third seat merely grumbled and continued running from end to end of the room washing the floor.
Whilst the captain was away she liked to enjoy the little bit of extra leeway that was afforded her, she had nothing ain't the little white-haired prodigy slaving away in front of her, but his quick ascension through the ranks had meant he hadn't properly learned humility and as such she had taken it upon herself to make sure he knew how to truly graft for someone you really don't want to.
The bland office wasn't really doing it for Rangiku and she decided to get done fresh air, leaving through the sliding door and ignoring that her third seat had slumped to the floor.
The gardens of the tenth, whilst not as lavish as the sixth, or as calming as the fourth and thirteenth were still more than ample for anyone to relax, and in the shadow of a sakura tree she poured herself some sake.
"I do hope you brought some for little old me" a snide voice called from her side.
Gin Ichimaru, captain of squad three and Rangiku's oldest friend made a habit of popping up when it suited him, and now was no different.
"Good afternoon Captain Ichimaru, I hope all is well?" She asked the fox faced man.
"I'm fine Rangiku dear, however I had hoped to deliver these files from Captain Aizen to Captain Shiba, any idea where he is?"
"None at all Gin, but I'd be happy to take them from you for when he returns."
"Ah you're a lifesaver, well, bye for now." He said dropping the files into her lap.
And with that he shunpo'd away, Rangiku, deciding that a full afternoon of drinking was off of the table, got up and carried her reports and Sake back to the captain's office.
Re-entering the room, and noticing the distinct lack of Hitsugaya, began studying through all that Gin had handed her.
Lieutenant Matsumoto was going through the reports when she started noticing a common theme. Every shinigami that had gone missing or was KIA in the last few months all disappeared around Karakura town.
Whilst there were reasons the Gotei 13 had stationed more than rank and file shinigami and instead had put lower seated officers in charge of the area, the main was that it was currently the spiritually rich area, the jureichi, and as such was under slightly more scrutiny when it came to attacks.
But these reports hadn't come up at any meeting she'd been to, nor had they been dwelling on her captain's mind in his ramblings so he didn't know, or didn't want her to know if he did.
It was at this moment, a fresh, youthful, black haired man walked into the room. White haori over his soul reaper garb, Isshin Shiba, head of the Shiba clan strutted into his office and perched himself atop the desk Rangiku was working on.
"Ah Rangiku-san, how's my favourite lieutenant?" He smiled at the red-headed woman, dodging the notebook aimed at his face.
"I'm your only lieutenant captain, now do you know anything about these?" She handed him the dossier on all the missing shinigami, he took it and began fingering through all the notes and sheets of information.
"Rangiku?" He asked seriously "where did you get these?"
"Captain Aizen sent them to you, via Captain Ichimaru's own delivery service." She chuckled trying to lighten the mood for what was to come.
"This information isn't anything I knew about, do we have any men stationed there at the moment?"
She had been dreading this.
"Yes sir, 14 members of squad ten are there at the moment, though I don't remember giving the order."
Isshin rubbed his chin, "Come to think of it, neither did I." He spun round and grabbed Engetsu. "I'm going to the world of the living Matsumoto, keep everything ticking till I get back." He shunpo'd out the door and straight to the Senkaimon.
"Don't do anything stupid captain."
Present day
"Sorry dad but you were Rangiku and Toshiro's Captain?" Ichigo asked, shocked at the truth.
Tatsuki had met both of them before, Rangiku had taken Orihime under her wing and Toshiro seemed too young to be a captain but he'd earned the right to hold the position.
"Yep, and I walked straight into a trap." Isshin continued.
20 years ago
Karakura town
Isshin Shiba was locked in a stalemate.
The hollow in front of him had slain all of his men, even when he ordered their retreat it launched a cero at them, killing those that could flee.
As Engetsu clashed with the black hollows claws again, the wound that the lurking shinigami had inflicted on him had turned this fight from retribution and redemption for the officers slain by this beast, into a slugfest.
The wound he had been inflicted had come from a zanpakuto, the spiritual energy was unmistakable, and had to have been someone who knew about Engetsu's abilities. That left a shinigami higher-up.
In a momentary lapse, the hollow had managed to open up some distance between the two of them and charged a cero in-between it's horns, when, all of a sudden, a woman began shooting arrows at the hollow. The blue unmistakable arrow of a Quincy.
As the beast's attention was now turned on the girl it rushed her, getting inside her guard and biting her shoulder.
The woman, completely unfazed by this, shot an arrow at point blank range at the hollows head, erasing it from existence.
With the shock having left Isshin's system he flash stepped over to the girl and inspected her injuries.
"That was mighty brave of you, but foolish. You didn't know what you were dealing with." He lectured the girl, applying some healing Kido to the wound.
"Hmm" she scoffed "by the looks of things you didn't know what you were dealing with either soul reaper." Her grin started to form.
"Hey I was ambushed and sabotaged, you shot an opponent that had been worn down, a thank you would be nice" he pouted, turning away before receiving a slap round the head.
"I'm the one who's bitten here, if anyone should be getting a thanks it should be me." She turned herself in mock hurt, mischievous glint in her eye.
"Now that's not fair, scavenging kills is honest work yes, but I don't have to thank you for them."
As the woman went to return the banter, Captain Shiba felt the opening of a Senkaimon and hushed the girl.
"Look you need to get out of here, shinigami are gonna flock this place for evidence and if they find a Quincy then you're in trouble." He placed a hand on her shoulder. His actions and his words stank of authority but his face and eyes yearned for her to get to safety and she saw this as she looked, her eyes into his.
"Masaki," she said as she turned to walk away. "I'm Masaki."
Flummoxed by the now named Masaki's actions, Isshin did what any sensible person would.
"I'm Isshin, look after yourself." And in two wisps of wind caused by Shunpo and Hirenkyaku the battleground was empty.
Present day
"After that I went back and filed my report, leaving in nothing of your mother." Isshin continued "but after a while she was all I could think about, I told Rangiku I had to check on something and made my way back here."
Ichigo had never really been told how his mother and father had met. He knew a lot of things about their relationship in general but his dad had never told him how they'd met.
"Masaki seems like she was a badass Mr Kurosaki." Tatsuki said stunned at the news the same beautiful woman who doted on her little boy was capable of going toe-to-toe with the strongest of hollows was a perfectly massive culture shock to the black belt.
"Well the some doesn't fall far from the tree Tatsuki" Isshin said "and I'm not talking about Ichigo".
"You mean Karin dad?"
"No, but I'll get there" Isshin continued
20 years ago
As Isshin Shiba touched down in a downpour entrenched Karakura, a white haired, well dressed man approached him with something in his arms.
In the man's arms was Masaki, pale and weak. Isshin was shocked, he'd healed her fine, sure some residual bruises were part and parcel of the task but this was a shocker.
"Hollow reiatsu is poisonous to Quincies Soul Reaper. Killing her would have been a greater mercy than this." The man pushed his glasses up "She's going through the stages of soul suicide, soon she'll be gone, removed from all plains of existence because you weren't good enough."
As Isshin motioned to draw Engetsu in a fit of rage, the sound of wooden sandals made themselves heard in the street.
"Soul suicide is a horrible way to go Ishida-san, Shiba-san. Thankfully I have a way to solve this."
The man still hidden by the rain spoke. "It would require a balance of four different signatures to pull it off, and all I need is a shinigami."
Isshin looked at the woman in Ishida's arms, despite the banter she had saved his life, and he wouldn't forget it.
"I owe her this, but who are you?"
"Why I'm your friendly shopkeeper, but you Mr Shiba know me as Kisuke Urahara"
Present day
"I had no real choice, Kisuke linked our souls together and I took care of Masaki. Eventually we fell in love and had some kids, and even though it was all so improbable, being from different worlds and it being a pure chance, I don't think there was anyone else for me but Masaki." With Isshin's story now finished Ichigo finally understood what Nimaya meant.
Ichigo Kurosaki was the son of Isshin Shiba, captain of squad ten and head of the Shiba family. He was the son of Masaki Kurosaki, Quincy, Infected by hollow.
He was the perfect hybrid.
"I know who I am now dad. I know what I was meant to find." Ichigo spoke to his father "But why don't I feel truly whole yet?"
"That's because you need the last piece of the puzzle" Isshin began putting his arm around Ichigo and Tatsuki. "You see son, Karins got fire about her, and Yuzu has the love of your mother. But your twin is truly Masaki's embodiment." And with that he looked at Tatsuki Arisawa
"The two of you were born before and after midnight on July the fifteenth and July the sixteenth. Yoruichi, Tessai and Kisuke all helped alter the medical facts. Something as simple as making Tatsuki just those 24 hours younger than she was meant Aizen wouldn't even look twice at it."
"The Arisawa's were Masaki's friends through childhood and when we asked them to adopt you they took you in no questions asked."
"Ichigo, Tatsuki Arisawa is Tatsuki Kurosaki, and your twin sister."
So that's this chapter, let me know how you all feel so far. Review at your own leisure and let me know if you have any gripes or questions
