Author's Note: Ichi is a bit of a unique story among my works, I don't quite have a overarching plot so chapters are gonna be pretty distinct from each other. The idea I have for this is pretty niche and involves a lot of timeskips so it won't quite be a continuous story like my other guys. Because of that I don't expect the chapters to be lengthy and the content is gonna be different. This is foremost a fic about family and feels with some humor, bits of action and kind of a 'fix it' as well. So don't expect any serious fights or antagonists to pop up. Sort of related to this update is my trend of starting new stories rapidly while neglecting my other ones so for now on every time I post a new story (In this case it is Criminally Kurusu, go read that if you like P5) I will be updating an existing story at the same time. That doesn't mean every time I update a story there will be a new one, just that every time I create a new story I'll make sure to update an existing one at the same time. Hopefully this helps me make some progress in my stories. Finally, here's the second chapter of Ichi.

Five years later or five blinks if you're someone like Ichigo, Foosha Village is a vastly different place.

Ichigo swears he didn't mean to do this.

But somehow, when that damned door was opened the brat gained access to his memories. Meaning he saw the myriad of civilizations Ichigo's lived in, each one different from the last.

Now, this in itself isn't such a terrible thing.

What is bothersome for Ichigo, is the fact that this kid realizes how much of a dump Foosha Village is when compared to the standards of living in some of his past lives. And apparently, Ichigo needs to do something about it. Because it's somehow his responsibility to take care of the village.

Ichigo tries his best to ignore him.

He tries.

It just became so damn annoying and overwhelming. The kid's whining whenever another family is forced to leave the village in hopes to support themselves elsewhere, Maki's sad face as she confesses her family is considering the shut down of Party's Bar.

That kind of thing breaks through Ichigo's walls of apathy like they're made of tissue paper instead of cruel experiences and endless years of heartache.

So he fixes it.

The island that is.

New fishing and farming equipment and some knowledge about modern agriculture goes a long way in a village like this. Plus technology that isn't supposed to be on islands like this, much less a village. (You can only be born into so many less than modern worlds before you decide to learn how to build your own AC/heater combination.)

And suddenly, Foosha village becomes a seat of commerce, more of a city more than a village, that supplies the nearby Goa Kingdom with food, supplies and even artisans.

How is Ichigo supposed to know that the craftsmen he had kidnapped to teach him architecture would settle down and take on apprentices?

At some point down the road when a school is built, Ichigo doesn't even blink. The plight of the villagers stops making him feel guilty and Makino is happy to help out as a teacher when she's not working the city's most popular drinking hole.

So when people start calling him the 'Witch Doctor' it's less surprising and more annoying.

What is surprising is when the annual harvest festival suddenly becomes something like halloween just because he forgot he was wearing a medical mask during last year's festivities.

He doesn't have anything against the villagers getting together and making a ruckus. Not really.

It's just the stupid mask thing. How in the world does him wearing a medical mask for a day turn into some kind of cultural craze that has people carving wooden masks to imitate him?

At least that's what he tells himself when he hides on the roof against his chimney while Makino calls for him in his front yard.

"Ichi!" Still that stupid, juvenile nickname.

And still the stupid, warm fuzzy feelings in his gut that he doesn't think about.

Ichigo sighs at Makino's disappointed demeanor, the mini-me in his head practically screaming at him because of her sadness.

"Up here." He calls out finally as she's about to walk away. Because of course it would just be too rude if he were to let her waltz off after coming to find him.

"Ichigo!"

And there's the tone he's been learning to dislike.

"Yeah yeah, just give me a sec." Ichigo rolls to his feet and with a bored hop, plummets the forty feet down to the ground.

Of course at this point, Makino is less impressed with his supernatural abilities and and even less impressed by his act of perpetual boredom and annoyance.

"Where have you been?! The festival is starting already, people are wondering where you are?" Makino puts her hands on her hips and sternly stares up at him as he comes closer.

While he's never been thrilled with the side affects of puberty, it is nice that he's taller than Makino now.

Of course, the disembodied spirit of this world's Ichigo is a dirty pervert that makes his body's eyes linger a little too long on Maki's teenage body.

"I swear to Kami I will put your parent's deaths on repeat in there if you keep doing that." He mutters threateningly.

Sorry!

It probably says something that the brat isn't even shocked at this, just afraid and expectant.

Hey, Ichigo can be as mean as he likes to himself. That's practically the only part of him that has stayed the same over the years.

"What did you say?" Makino asks with narrowed eyes and Ichigo smiles weakly. "Just apologizing."

Makino huffs and tugs him along by his wrist. "You don't need to apologize to me. However, there's plenty of people to apologize to at the harvest festival."

Ichigo scowls. "I don't get why I need to come to this, it's not like I'm part of the festivities or anything." Makino is akin to a wall of steel as she fields his complaints with practiced ease. "Ichigo, this festival is all but in your name. You've done so much for all of us but you're such a recluse the only time anyone sees you is when they get hurt. I was teaching last week and the first years were bragging about how many times they've seen you. How much longer before they start acting sick or actually let themselves get hurt to see you?"

Ichigo shrugs with a sigh. "Not my problem."

Makino scowls furiously back at him before she digs an item out her bag and pins it to his chest. "Well if you hate everyone so much, why even bother staying?"

Ichigo is frozen as she marches off, his brain whirring as he tries to keep up. The mask cradled in his hands is turned absently as he admires the pale carved wood.

It's a caricature of a human skull.

Fuck.

Makino's been there every step of the way. This life might be unique but it doesn't change the fact that Ichigo's at such a low point in his existence he's not sure he'll ever get out. But Makino has easily been the best part of this life. Pulling him out of apathy and depression one smile at a time.

He doesn't owe her. He doesn't. He would be fine as a crotchety hermit who hates people and the world.

But he'd lying if she doesn't make him want to be more. To make this life matter.

Because what does it say about Ichigo's existence if he is born and dies an endless amount of times but only actually lives in a handful.

Ichigo knows hurt, he knows pain and regret and loneliness and broken dreams.

But he also knows compassion, care, love and family.

Life isn't just the bad.

He needs that reminder sometimes.

People aren't always bad.

He knows the world is cruel. It's filled with criminals, tyrants and villains that need to be put down.

But sometimes it's just a village.

A village with decent people that try to make a living and keep their families happy. Just glad to celebrate their lives, another year where they don't have to go hungry.

And as he dons that wooden mask with all the gravity of the reaper himself he opens the door a little bit more and Ichigo smiles.

"How about we sign up for the drinking competition? I bet I can beat you." Ichigo boasts as he hooks an arm through Makino's. She's looking down at another mask, a smooth, woman's face with flowers carved into it. Her frown is confused as it drifts from her mask to his grinning one. "What?"

"I bet you can't even handle three rounds of your family's rum. By the time I'm done, everyone on the island will know how much of lightweight you are Maki." He teases as he carefully interlocks their fingers.

Her frown lifts into a beautiful smile as she understands, as they communicate in this unspoken language of theirs.

I'm sorry.

When Ichigo's with Makino he's never been less than confident, he exudes a fearlessness that's reminiscent of a childhood chasing ghosts and fighting delinquents.

"Ichi you've never had a drink in your life. You'll be a drooling wreck if you even make it past the first round." She cuts in, curling her arm around his tightly.

I know.

Where Ichigo becomes confident, Makino is practically arrogant. She's not afraid to bruise his ego because she knows all too well she can soothe and piece it back together with ease. After all these years together, it's not a surprise to her that Ichigo only comes to life at her beck and call.

"Bold words from such a dainty flowery girl." He traces the etched petals along her donned mask, the regal expression of a goddess gazing into his own mask.

Forgive me?

His ivory grin leans in and her thin, perfectly sculpted frown comes closer.

"Even flowers have thorns Ichi."

Always.


"Guys it's the Witch Doctor! Run!" There's a frenzy of giggling and shrieking as most of the children scatter at Ichigo's bleached white cheshire grin.

The harvest festival has been an annual celebration since before Ichigo and Makino were children but it has only been in recent years that the village has created such a display. The beach is alive with flickering standing torches, stalls serving grilled and baked foodstuffs and throngs of villagers playing music, dancing and drinking.

It is little things like this that makes believing in the human spirit possible for Ichigo.

Makino covers her own giggle at the antics of the children while Ichigo whips his mask around wildly. "Where?!"

One brave and inquisitive boy inches closer, a stuffed toy of some sort clutched close to his face. Ichigo is struck by how young and vulnerable the child seems as he works up the courage to speak.

"Are-Are you really magic?"

Ichigo kneels down, a finger idly tapping along the pale of his mask. "Of course." He extends a hand, light coalescing into a softly glowing orb. At the boy's wide, astonished gaze Ichigo smiles and taps him on the nose. "But I think everyone's got a bit of their own magic."

The child gapes as he listens to Ichigo. "Really? Even me?"

Ichigo nods in approval and takes on a serious mien as he leans in. "I find that the best magic is in what we share with others. Is that your best friend?" The boy is solemn as he presents his stuffed animal, a dog with black spots.

"His name is Johnny."

Ichigo lays a hand on the toy. "I bet if you wish really hard, you can share some of your magic with Johnny just for tonight."

Immediately the boy closes his eyes and Ichigo has to stifle a chuckle. Kids can be so trusting and precious sometimes that it never fails to melt his heart.

So it's less of a chore and more of joy to fashion something that will work for the boy. He can't actually just create new souls and life with a twitch of the hand.

He can however create something of a facsimile or imprint of a soul. He knows the pattern it should take, the sound of the music a soul like this vibrates with and as he molds his reiatsu into the proper form he's once again reminded by how much he doesn't know about the soul.

But something like this?

A temporary mod-soul of a dog is completely within his reach.

The boy's eyes open as the stuffed animal wriggles in his arms. He gasps in surprise as it barks and nuzzles against his face. The delight and happiness in his face makes this all worth it.

And when the boy giggles and chases the dog as it leaps out of his arms, the heartwarming smile that Makino shares with him is terribly bright and happy.

"You know they're just going to talk about you more. All the children will be asking you for their own magic stuffed animals now." She says as he stands to his feet beside her. Though the mask covers her features neatly, he knows her scolding comes from a teasing smile.

He chuckles and loops their arms together, following her lead. "For all your talk of responsibility, you seem to be shirking yours."

Makino pauses in her step and looks at him with unabashed curiosity.

Ichigo hovers close, his mask brushing hers. "I might be indirectly responsible for all of this." He gestures to the lights arranged within the trees and the loudly celebrating crowd. "But you're responsible for me being here. Anyone coming to bother me will just have to go through you first."

At once Makino seems embarrassed, proud and irked at his words. "Ichi." She remands and he drags her along with him once more. "Maki." He mocks back to the sound of her laughter.


Ichigo doesn't like people.

So it's not a surprise that as soon as others start noticing his presence, start calling his name and trying to talk to him that he drags her into the throng of dancing villagers.

What is a surprise is that he can dance.

It appears effortless for Ichigo as he clutches her close, swaying to the music and guiding her through steps that she is certain he has never learned in his life.

And he's like that all the time.

Always full of surprises.

There is so much he knows, so much he conceals from her, even now after the years he spent transforming their little dying village into a burgeoning city.

But it has never been the knowledge beyond his years that piques her curiosity or even his magic that she knows doesn't come from a devil fruit.

It's always been Ichigo.

There's what everyone else sees, the brooding, apathetic veneer that frightens others and creates distance. That barrier is his shield, what he uses to separate himself from the world.

But Makino finds herself in the unique position of being able to tear down that wall as simply as she smiles at him.

It is what lies underneath that truly intrigues her, what draws her in.

Because ever since they were young, Ichigo has cradled a well of pain, despair and loneliness that makes something in her heart crack.

When she was young, Makino kept him within arms reach because of the death of his parents and the sadness that resulted from it.

And yet the compassion she held for him became interest and curiosity as the years passed and she noticed the disconnect between his despair and the grief she realized he never felt. Why was Ichigo in anguish? Why did he appear to lose himself inside of his mind and find hurt in the everyday happenings of life?

Now, as Makino sways in rhythm with Ichigo and relaxes her head against his collarbone she knows that what she feels has become something more. There is a burning need within her to soothe his aches, his pain. To be caring, compassionate and above all patient so he doesn't have to hold back. Makino wants to be the person that can bring him back from his void, from his depression.

Makino's dream is to see Ichigo smile and she's not quite sure what's going to happen along the way.


Maki smells nice.

Ichigo's smile becomes strained behind his mask as he ushers Makino through the dance.

You should tell her that she looks pretty.

Ichigo's teeth grind with irritation as he delicately swings Makino away from a drunk couple.

Hm, that's an idea.

"How about that drink Maki?"

Makino looks up at him, her mask serenely gazing upon his own. "Right now? It's a bit early, the contest runs all night."

Ichigo snorts down at her. It's never too early to drink. He might not be an alcoholic anymore but he's also not the kind of person to abstain anymore.

Life passes him by in moments but intoxication has a way of anchoring him in the moment that he relishes.

"Admitting your defeat already?" Ichigo asks with what he knows is a cocky grin.

Makino steps up on his feet gingerly, arms hooked around his neck tightly as his hands rest on her hips. "Not on your life."

"Heyya Ichigo, where have ya' been?" Ichigo smiles in amusement as he sits down at the outdoor bar. "Hiding from this one, where else?" He shoulders Makino and she rolls her eyes at him.

Dirk is an aging butcher who he'd made the acquaintance of. The man is a decent sort but Dirk has a horrible habit of saying too much sometimes. And this fact is only exacerbated by the copious amounts of alcohol in his system.

"Ha! Our Maki can be a little much sometimes don't I know it. But listen, when are you gonna marry my Ann? She's been sweet on you for ages and she's-she's beautiful. Ichigo she's a real wom-"

Clang!

"Here's your beer Dirk!" Makino's mother, the waitress and co-owner of Party's Bar, Valera is a gem. As if summoned by Karma, the older likeness of Makino violently bashes in Dirk's head with a stein, slamming it into the table.

"Oh my, I'm sorry! I must have slipped." Her sweet, saccharine tone is followed by the trickle of frothy beer being poured over the man's head. "Drink up!"

Makino giggles as she looks up her mother with fondness. "Mom you didn't have to do that." Valera comes around the table bending down to kiss Makino's cheek. "Nonsense. You're perfect just the way you are. Isn't that right Ichigo?"

"Yes Ma'am." Ichigo promptly agrees seeing as how he doesn't want to be assaulted.

Valera shares the endless compassion that Makino has but without any of the patience for fools. And Ichigo is determined to not be that fool.

"So how did you manage to wrangle Ichigo here? I thought this one was hiding up on the mountain or something." She asks curiously while shooting a sour look at Ichigo.

That's a good idea. Maybe he'll try that next time.

Makino tightens her grip on Ichigo like she can hear his thoughts and chuckles at her mother. "Well, it was something like that. But he actually ended up challenging me to the drinking contest."

It's a bit ominous that Makino's mother laughs like that is a ludicrous concept. Surely Makino isn't that good at drinking? He doesn't think he's ever seen her drunk or even drinking when he finds his way to their bar.

Valera settles herself and eyes Ichigo. "You know the rules right? Each cup has to be stacked into a tower and if you knock it down or can't finish a drink then you lose."

Ichigo smirks. "I doubt it'll be a problem. I'm more worried about Maki here not making it interesting for me."

Again they laugh and Ichigo has a premonition that maybe he should be more concerned with himself.

As they begin the competition and start to drink, it quickly becomes clear that one, the other challengers from the island's inhabitants are lightweights and two, Makino can fucking drink.

Ichigo had figured that she has had some experience but not this kind of experience. Her drinking prowess easily lets her empty out a plethora of steins with each empty cup carefully structured into a tower.

The music seems blaringly loud as he slams down another mug, not at all ashamed of his disgustingly uproarious burp.

Ichigo eyes Makino confidently as he lazily discards the empty cup at a growing tower, the cup perfectly balancing at the top. The crowd goes wild as they clap and cheer and Makino simply just raises an eyebrow.

He's deluding himself that she's somehow impressed when she slams two steins together and drains them at once in the time it took him to finish one.

His disbelief grows as she daintily places her cups on the tower that makes up her finished rounds and sits back down while winking at him.

Ichigo flushes from the cocktail of want and intoxication until Makino burps.

He swears the island seems to shake like some kind of monster is yawning.

And then Makino's tower tumbles down and the villagers cheer at Ichigo's victory while Makino pouts.

She slides over to him while he grins at her widely. "Shut it Ichi, I was winning."

Ichigo just laughs, pulling her close. "Maki I didn't know you were such a sore loser."

There's a glint of something mischievous in her eyes as she looks up at him. She seems to mull something over as she lays a hand on his. "Maybe. I really think you'd have to prove it Ichi. Build something twice the size of what you have and I'll decide it's my loss."

Ichigo chuckles at her and leans in close. "You just want to see me drunk." Makino looks up at him innocently. "Well if you don't want the win, I'll take it."

Ichigo shakes his head in exasperation and scowls down at her mock-seriously. "Like hell I'd let you win!"

And then Ichigo forgets his reservations as he indulges like a hedonist after a dry spell.

Cup after cup, mug after mug he builds on his tower until he's having to clamber on top of it to add to it. The villagers are in awe and maybe slightly fearful that Ichigo is going to drink all the alcohol.

Makino simply grins as his cheeks flush more, his steps become staggered and his words become slurred.

"Maki..." Ichigo is practically draped over Makino as he nurses a mug in one hand.

"Maki you're pretty."

Makino smiles at him in mirth as she tries her best to hold him upright. "Thank you Ichi."

Ichigo frowns. "No. You're like really pretty. Like the prettiest."

Makino grins up at him and leans into him. "Thank you Ichi." She replies again indulgingly.

He suddenly scowls and slumps in his seat. "I miss my sisters."

Makino is confused and a bit alarmed. "Your sisters?"

Ichigo nods sadly. "Yuzu and Karin. They-They were my little sisters you know? But they left me like everyone else."

Makino raises an eyebrow. She isn't sure what she was expecting to glean from a drunk Ichigo, but the sudden mention of siblings she's never heard of was not on her mind.

"They left you?"

Ichigo sniffs and Makino's eyes widen because Ichigo never cries. No matter how sad he is or how much pain he feels, he never sheds a tear.

And yet at the mention of these sisters he does.

"Everyone gets old and leaves. And I stay until I don't and it happens all over again."

Makino opens her mouth to question him more because this is the strangest thing Ichigo's ever said and she's more than eager to understand.

Boom!

Everyone on the beach cries out in surprise and fear as a ship seemingly comes out of nowhere and beaches on the shoreline violently.

It's not long before they realize what this is with sinking hearts and fearful murmuring.

Pirates.

It is a very rare occasion that pirates visit Foosha village. There's never been any reason for them to come, there's never been any benefit for pirates to raid their humble village in the past.

But now?

When they have so much of a surplus of food they sell to Goa and their pockets are lined with beri?

Foosha village isn't such a no-name village anymore.

As a thick fog surges over the sands, depositing pirates and raiders with barreled guns and jagged blades the villagers despair.

The crowd screams and rushes to flee, tripping over each other and causing chaos.

Makino is afraid but there's something that tells her that she is safe.

Suddenly, she realizes that Ichigo is standing and one of his hands tousles her hair gently.

"Save my seat for me." He says absently as he marches towards the cacophony and Makino realizes that she should be running and panicking but Ichigo is exuding so much careless confidence that she can't help but trust in him.

Her mother is by her side in an instant. "Maki, let's go, we need to hide." Her tone is hissing and insistent with an undertone of terror and dread.

Makino shakes her head hesitantly and her smile is strained as she looks at Valera. "Ichigo's going to stop them."

"How?! He's a doctor Maki not a fighter, we need to go!"

But Makino remembers her childhood, remembers the little boy with strawberry-orange hair that lifted tons of wood and built a house with his bare hands. She remembers his inane 'hunting stick' and the corpses of gargantuan predators he used to drag from the forest.

And she stays, holding her mothers hand as she relaxes and her smile turns peaceful. "Just trust Ichigo."


Drunk Ichigo is pissed.

He likes being drunk but the buzz that's swiftly receding is not worth whatever he spilled to Maki. He's told people about his curse before. Some of them believed him, some of them didn't.

But of those who did, there weren't many who could look at him the same way when he shows them who he is and what he's done.

Eternity is a long time to accumulate sins.

But right now, he's itching to hit something.

And lucky him that the universe decided to provide him some stress relief.

"Yehahaha! Forward boys! Leave no stone unturned and take anything that isn't tied down!" A pirate with a barrel sized stomach yells at his men with missing teeth and a scraggly beard.

It's like someone used a template and printed out a bunch of cookie-cutter pirates. Not terribly original.

What is new is the smog that's released from the captain's maw, leaving behind pirates armed to the teeth.

Sober Ichigo might want to keep some anonymity and live a quiet life in a shack somewhere but drunk Ichigo has no patience for this and more importantly, no mercy.

And so for the first time in this life, Ichigo calls for Zangetsu.

And when the sealed zanpakuto comes forth as a sheathed katana writ in midnight black with blood red knots hanging from its hilt, He immediately wakes.

Zangetsu has never liked being confined.

King I swear to fuck you only ever call me out to massacre bitches! It's been what? Like 800 years since you even bothered to summon me?! And what do you call me for? More death. It's always the same with you. The sword-spirit sighs in disappointment.

Ichigo pauses.

Yeah I like violence and death just as much as the next blade but that kind of thing gets repetitive if that's the only thing I'm here for. Like seriously, when was the last time you just called me up to talk? Is it such a chore to communicate?! I'm literally you dipshit. And you don't like being ignored.

Sorry?

You better be sorry asshole! You're not so powerful I can't beat your ass in here like the old days! Just keep me around at least, I can only meditate for so long before I need some stimulation. And your life is like a goddamn sitcom, let me commentate once in a while you know? I'm not asking for much here King.

Alright alright. I'll keep you around more. You good now?

King, I am so far from good that the devil would envy the amount of not good I am. But I guess that shit can wait. Just don't dismiss me afterwards and I'll cut these bitches up for you.

Thanks, I guess.

And Zangetsu breaks free of his seal with a thunderous roar that shakes the earth, the katana flooding the air with an endlessly black aura and shattering violently into the blades that make up his Shikai.

Ichigo doesn't even bother listening to the pirate captain's grandstanding as he swings both blades in succession.

The first blade to be swung is a deceptively short sword that resembles a dense machete with a handguard.

It severs the atmosphere across the beach with nary a whisper. In one moment, nearly thirty pirates are arrayed before Ichigo. In the next, thirty corpses slide into the sand in halves while blood mists into the air.

They are mere grain before the scythe.

The second blade possesses but a single edge like the first. But this blade is monstrous when compared to its counterpart. In contrast to the other half of Ichigo's Shikai, this blade's edge seems almost blunt and holds within its wide body a void in the appearance of a fang.

This blade is not silent as it is swung.

The very heavens scream and rupture as the hollowed blade descends and everything in its path is pulped and powdered.

There is a trench that gapes and stretches from where Ichigo stands reaching into the sea where there used to be a pirate ship.

Now there is only the sea, split in twain and the scent of sawdust in the air.

Ichigo's scowl gazes over the devastation with apathetically before turning back to the island.

The villagers look back in shock, awe and horror.

Well fuck.

Author's Note: I mean, I said bits of action and then I wrote the first draft and it just felt so underwhelming without any dramatic wording and sequencing. So yeah, Ichigo don't play. That said, I'm going to try and keep the Ichigo is stronger than anyone thing on the side so this doesn't just turn into some kind of wish-fulfillment fic where Ichigo beats all of the strongest characters from the One Piece cast. Like I said at the beginning the action is not the focus of the fic despite how Ichigo's strength influences the story. This chapter took a bit out of me, I wasn't super motivated to write it but I think I delivered pretty well. Please review and let me know your thoughts. Also check out my other fics bc I have quite a few stories going all in different fandoms.