Chapter 4

Chapterio numero 4. The fourth segment. Part four or the first part of the thing.

Am I getting this across okay? Lovely. Yep chapter four is here, longer to work on, the back end of the year is always a busy one so I tried getting this out before the new year and I failed. Love you all and here. We. Go


The Soul King's Palace

Ichigo and Tatsuki emerged from their father's dangai and were deposited, from Ichigo's recollection, in the very place he arrived last time, though this time without the zero squads escort.

"So this is where your people's god lives?" Tatsuki asked, looking around. This isn't the holy realm that she imagined when she was told heaven had the equivalent of a special select club where the king of souls lived and people he deemed had done well enough to earn entrance.

"If you think this is a let down, you should see how the rest of the soul society looks." The pair began walking towards Nimaya's palace. "The place is corrupt, the noble clans run everything and the four 'great' noble clans basically run every one of them." Ichigo's trademark scowl adorned his face, his displeasure of soul society's lack of progression well known to his friends.

"That's wrong Ichigo, surely a few family's can't control all the billions in the afterlife?" Tatsuki asked, shocked at the knowledge that the afterlife was run by a select few who hadn't earned the peoples trust.

"I know Tatsuki, but in their eyes, the great clans have earned it. When the soul king left he placed the central 46 in charge. They were 46 members in charge of the laws of the soul society whilst the Gotei 13 were responsible for the overall monitoring and control over the flow of souls and the cycle of reincarnation."

Ichigo was aware of Tatsuki's shock that the afterlife was run the way it was, but Ichigo was more shocked he'd managed, through all his trips to have learned as much as he had, he'd have to subtly bring it up to Yoruichi and Urahara that they were better teachers than he gave them credit for.

"So what about the souls that don't become soul reapers or aren't nobles? What happens to them?" Tatsuki asked, wanting to know everything.

"Oh that's the Rukon district, you see the lower the number the closer to the seireitei they are, and the safer they are, if you're in the upper 70's or even district 80 that's where it's a fight to survive. Rukia and Renji are both from 78 - Hanging Dog."

"But I thought Rukia's meant to be some big Princess Kuchiki? How did she get there if she was born as common as muck?"

"She was adopted now shush there's time for this later Tats, I need a sword." Ichigo had led them to the palace of Ōetsu Nimaya, not that Tatsuki knew it, as to her she just saw what was basically an outhouse, and Ichigo was taking every precaution not to end up getting thrown out of here again.

"Yo Nimaya I'm back!" He shouted at the wooden building.

Sensing Tatsuki looking at him like he was mad, he made his way up to the offending man's palace and knocked down the door. Turning to his sister, her eyebrow raised he merely sighed.

"Ya know Ichigo if ya just wanted my attention all you had to do was ask." A voice came from inside the building.

"I did ask you idiot but you didn't answer me, I had to make sure you were here didn't I?" He motioned to Tatsuki to follow him down, she followed, albeit confused as to what was going on but this easily wasn't the most confusing thing that had happened to her today.

As they made their way towards what looked like a blacksmiths there stood a black man with an afro, shades and a white coat talking with her brother and beckoning him to enter a room, as he walked in the door was shut and the white robes man turned to her.

"So, you must be Tatsuki, I know all about you, don't worry about that. So introductions, I'm Ōetsu Nimaya, and I have forged every single Zanpakuto in history. So what I want to know right now is what do you want to do?"

He'd spoken so fast and had sparked so many questions from Tatsuki that she was thrown off at the addition of his own.

"Nice to meet you too, and I'm sorry but what do you mean what do I want to do?"

"Well you see you're one of us now, a soul. Your daddy's portal saw to that. But what I wanna know is do you want to do what Ichigo Kurosaki's doing, or are you along the lines of doing what Ichigo Shiba is not doing?"

"I'm sorry this is a bad first impression from me. I get what you mean from the perspective of what my brother's doing but the Shiba bit?" Tatsuki asked stumped

"The Shiba clan is one of the five great noble clans, as such it requires a head from the main family, the woman in charge at the moment, though a good fit, would never allow the clan to elevate to those levels once more. Ya see what I mean?"

Tatsuki was beginning to understand him, their family had had a fall from grace from what she gathered and it was on the shoulders of herself, her brother and her sisters to rectify it.

But her talk with Ichigo from earlier had brought her attention to another segment of the shinigami's monologue. They were a great and noble clan, they had sway and power. Her and her brothers beliefs that the afterlife needed a boot up the ass was something they themselves could do.

"Could Ichigo be the clan head and the rest of us help with everything else or are they on their own?"

Nimaya pondered her question for a second.

"Clan heads are usually groomed from birth, so given the exceptional circumstances I believe that there is more than enough room for you and your sisters to be more than advisors, but I think final say would have to lie with the clan leader in many situations still."

In her mind any weight shared between them all was a chance to show that as a family they could make this place move forward to the modern day, have everyone moving and not be stagnated by the traditions of the other noble clans.

"I feel I must say, however, I'm not an expert in this, there are other guys here that could help more. Besides, I think your brother's almost done"

With Ichigo

As Ichigo stepped down the stairs into the darkness surrounded by Asauchi his presence was not filled with nearly as much attacking as his first venture.

Whilst the time when he and Renji had been duking it out with the Zanpakuto spirits had been a free for all, with the blank swords all fancying a bite out of the weakened substitute.

When they'd come down he hadn't confronted his past and he didn't know who he was. Ichigo Kurosaki was far more than the son of a runaway shinigami like he'd thought since Aizen's defeat. He was a noble heir, he was a Quincies son, he had the essence of a hollow running throughout his soul. He had three brilliant sisters and he would move heaven and earth for them.

As he strode through the Asauchi he finally came across the one calling to him. One wearing the mask of a hollow, and will hair a distinct orange.

"I choose you." He spoke as he rested his hand on the side of the mask, peeling it away from the spirit's face "Zangetsu".

The moment he called out the name of his sword he felt himself blackout and reawakened in a familiar inner world. He found himself standing on a large glass building as always, however it was different now.

The skyscrapers were the same, but the sideways landscape was gone, and it was as if he was in a metropolis in the living world.

The sky blue, the streets empty, and way in the distance he could see the faint glimpse of some mountains. Feeling relaxed about the fact he could be in his inner world without fear of death in the outside or inside of the space in his mind, Ichigo allowed himself to sit on the very edge of the top of the building he found himself on.

"Gotta say king, feel a lot better being a horse that you chose rather than one you got saddled with." A warped voice spoke as Ichigo looked to find his sword spirit on top of the large monolith of a building he too resided on.

"Well if you're as much a part of me as my soul says to me, then I guess I can live with that, you're my partner in this now, Zangetsu."

The Zanpakuto spirit in question was still the same in his physical appearance, he looked like an inverted version of his wielder, and his outfit was a lot less flappy and torn as the old one he wore and was a touch more form fitting.

"Hey Zangetsu?" The spirit hmphed in acknowledgement. "Where's the other Zangetsu?"

The sword spirit looked like he was uncertain whether to answer, diverting his gaze away from his wielder.

"You need to realise king, that what he was doing, he did because he thought it'd help you." The hollow-zanpakuto turned to face Ichigo. "I may not have liked being the bottom rung on the ladder but you can't deny, he saved you so many times when I couldn't."

"I know that Zangetsu, but the old man needs to tell me his reasons why, and I'd prefer if he'd do it now. With what's waiting for us to fix down in the soul society, I'd much rather us go into it with a clear mind."

The wielder and spirit turned to the sound of shunpo next to them, there they saw the offending spirit, the manifestation of Ichigo's Quincy powers, that had stood in stead of his Shinigami abilities, and in his eyes had held him back as much as he'd pushed him forward.

"Ichigo"

"Old man"

"I understand how you feel, but in a battle between Quincy and Hollow it's who strikes first. Had Zangetsu been the one to succeed you would have been killed from day one. The soul society would not have trusted someone with such open hollow powers."

The old man in front of him was still quite formal in his tone with Ichigo. Previously he'd done such as a teacher to the substitute shinigami, but now Ichigo felt he did it so to make Ichigo feel that he was the one who still knew best. Trying to make Ichigo see that from his point of view he was needed

"Although I cannot deny a certain amount of self-preservation in my actions. Had Zangetsu taken control he would have destroyed me, and I him if he wasn't necessary for your soul to remain stable."

"What he's tellin' ya king, is that whilst he's been acting all holier than thou, he's actually been chicken shit over all this" Ichigo's hollow burst out, his warp voice filled with laughter and an ounce of sing-song.

"I need to know Ossan, why not just tell me the truth, let me use Quincy powers and be of help to Uryu, if you were so against me using my actual shinigami powers?"

The old man paused, his cape blowing in non-existent wind. "I knew of my other parts intentions, I knew that Yhwach would return, as did all who feel the call to arms of the Quincy, it is a part of that life that is unavoidable. Had Yhwach known you were trained in the art of the Quincy then Mr Ishida and yourself would be his prized assets, you're potential for growth is your biggest boon from your heritage and he is aware of it. He fears you."

"And you're not interested in helping a part of your soul destroy the soul society?" Ichigo asked, sceptical of whether he was having information hidden from him again, he'd walked the path blind too long, he wasn't going to be making the same mistakes.

"I would be lying if I said I want no harm to come to the soul society, just as I would that I do not wish for the Quincy to prosper. However, I am aware of the role of the shinigami, just as I am that Yhwach is a blight upon these worlds and must be wiped from the face of this afterlife."

The former Zanpakuto spirit looked back at his wielder, the knowledge of his shame and his dishonesty on his sleeves and in his eyes, though hidden, burning with the feeling of disappointment and with the desire to prove his loyalty to his owner once more.

"Well I guess I can live with that, Ossan I have a question." Ichigo asked nonchalantly

The fact that Ichigo had spoken to him without a care in the world as if nothing happened shocked the normally stoic spirit. He had expected a thorough grilling yet his knowledge of how collected Ichigo could be in numerous situations so perhaps the results were to be expected. Zangetsu only chucked at his fellow lodger and his shocked appearance.

"Of course Ichigo what do you wish to know."

"When I was hit in Hueco Mundo by that Jailor guy, it wasn't hierro I used was it? This felt different."

'Ah' Zangetsu thought, this was another of his interferences.

"Forgive me Ichigo, but that was the Quincy technique Blut Veine, it's a second skin, so to speak, of reishi, it's mainly used by skilled Quincy to block the incoming attack with minimal damage"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and him. "So you were protecting me again instead of telling me, knowing what is best for me?" The turn in his voice to a more growled annoyance grated on the former sword spirits ears.

"I only triggered it, the reason it was so powerful was not my doing. Your mother's strongest weapon was her Blut Veine, impenetrable, yet she lowered it to lure the hollow in for an easy kill. That shield is all her knowledge passed on into your body's instincts."

Ichigo would have stepped back had he not been so close to the edge of the building. His mom was that powerful? The attack he'd tanked with it should have been enough to tear a man to pieces. Just how powerful had she trained to be before losing her powers?

"So my mum was able to tank those sort of hits as long as she needed? That's a bit crazy when you think about it old man"

"I know that Ichigo but you need to remember, you were able to weather the jailors ability with zero training. Imagine someone who had practiced the arts of the Quincy daily since they were a child. Then you can see how powerful she was." The old man told him.

Ichigo knew that if Uryu had been allowed to train and had his teacher not been killed on the orders of Mayuri Kurotsuchi then he would have been closer to his level in Hueco Mundo at the very least. But according to Zangetsu, a Quincy that had potential and had been groomed from a young age was able to bounce attacks off of a skin made of reishi and attacks that a Taicho was unable to pull off. But, she didn't protect herself on that night?

Ichigo remembered the night in the rain. He saw what had happened to his mother. If she was so strong and Grand fisher was really a pushover, how did she get defeated without drawing a weapon.

"Then how did she die to Grand fisher?"

Ossan paused for a moment. Unbeknownst to Ichigo he was cycling through memories of the night, his conversation with his father and of Yhwach's view of the event.

"On that evening Ichigo, Yhwach called in something called the Auschwalen, this meant he took the powers from every living Quincy he considered 'tainted'. Due to the hollow infection, your mother was a target, as was Uryu's mother. She died some time afterwards in a coma. Your mother was not far away from death at the time as a result, but she still protected you."

Ichigo's blood boiled. The Quincy king had set his sights in world domination, had killed his mother and robbed a friend of a loving home like himself. The bastard had killed the head captain. Order the same for all the others and was looking to destroy the stability of the different realms.

Zangetsu, who had remained quiet throughout, decided now was the time he was going to finally speak up.

"That old ass is gonna get what's coming to him king, don't you worry. But right now we've gotta go save those pussys you call friends from getting their asses whooped." The spirit spoke with typical class, enticing an eye-roll from Ossan.

"He is right Ichigo, we should leave this place now, Nimaya will be waiting as will your sister."

And with a bow to his inner spirits Ichigo left his inner world.

The Palace of Ōetsu Nimaya

As the two turned to the door Ichigo walked back through, his soul humming, not that Tatsuki could feel it, but the look in her brother's face said it all. Full of steely determinations he turned to the swordsmith.

"I've done what was asked, Nimaya-san. Now I ask that you forge me an Asauchi. I was told that I have never possessed one, and my partners and I would be most grateful to have you forge it for us." With that Ichigo bowed to the creator of the Zanpakuto. Only to be promptly slapped around the head by the goofy smith.

"Quit the bowing crap, I've been looking forward to this." Leaving Ichigo and Tatsuki shell shocked, the man flash-stepped to his forge and began beating away, imbuing the sword with reishi he slaved away.

"This is gonna take me a little while, find Ichibe. He has some news for you, and Senjumaru wants to do your clothes, go there first, she'll need both your measurements."

As he turned back to his work, his army of Zanpakuto spirit women reappeared and began assisting with the construction, as well as shuffling the twins out of the room.

"Where did all those girls come from?" Tatsuki asked, baffled by their sudden appearance.

"Believe me, it's best you don't know." Ichigo spoke, face reddening slightly from his memory of the way Nimaya behaves with said women.

The pair began their trek to meet the weaving master of the soul society. Senjumaru's little palace was covered in fabric rolls, different colours, different patterns all falling from above, it was like a seamstress' wonderland.

Approaching the woman who had begun inspecting said rolls, she turned to the pair.

"Greetings again Ichigo Kurosaki I'm happy to see that your soul has become mended, though it's not whole yet. I trust you're looking forward to wielding Zangetsu once more?" The woman spoke, her golden headress diverting the light towards them.

"Yes Senjumaru-san, Nimaya-san informed me that you wanted to take my measurements?" Ichigo half asked, not sure if Nimaya wanted to get him thrown off the palace for another reason.

"Yes, it would seem the buffoon was able to actually pass on a message. Now as for you deary" she span to Tatsuki "I don't think you've had the pleasure. Senjumaru Shutara, Great Weave Guard officially, however I am a captain of the Royal Guard, much the same as Ōetsu. What, may I ask, is your name?"

"Tatsuki Arisawa ma'am, although I think here it's probably best to go for Tatsuki Kurosaki I guess." The teen answered, unsure of which of her three surnames the woman would accept.

"Ah Isshin's daughter finally has entered the fray? How lovely, best to stick with your brother's surname for now, easier for some of the people down there to understand when it's in their face, poor fools."

"Shutara-san, whilst I'm grateful for your assistance, is there a reason you required us both?" Ichigo asked, hoping to divert the conversation onto a faster track than berating all of the Gotei 13.

"Why yes there is Kurosaki-san, you both need to be measured. I'm not having you two runnin around unless you can get in and out of here when you need to. I shall be weaving an oken directly into the cloths I'm using and they'll allow you to travel back and forth without trouble."

Tatsuki was stunned that the palace guard were willing to help the pair as much as they were. But even she knew sewing was no short task.

"Shutara-san, I'm most grateful for you gift but surely time is of the essence and to weave a robe, even for an expert takes time"

Ichigo smiled and Senjumaru had a smirk on her face.

"I forgot, my dear, that you hadn't seen these" and from beneath her Haori, her many arms flew out, and she extended them all towards the black haired Kurosaki twin.

"I think these signs help me with the task at hand."