Screams of anguish and self-righteous anger filled the second layer of Hell. Arcs of bright red energy, lined with the deepest black, cut through miles of space, obliterating every Sinner it encountered. Blood stained the ground as solid as carpet, only interrupted by broad scorch lines.

For the sole warden of Hell, Kurosaki Ichigo, it had been a rough day. He had been amidst his weekly Jinzen session when Hell had called out to him. A large group of Sinners had forced their way to the second level and were attempting to escape. It went without saying that they had to be stopped.

Which is easier said than done. Every layer of Hell was a pocket dimension, capable of containing the Earth's population ten times over. Now imagine, if you will, seventy-nine billion Sinners spread out over the space of that pocket dimension. That's a lot of people for one guy to shepherd back into submission.

Spotting a still breathing Sinner to his left, Ichigo hooked his smaller blade to his hip and grabbed the woman by the front of her yakuta.

'Who cooked this up?!'

The woman scratched at his hand, legs flailing to find solid ground. Her face contorted in a scowl that almost matched Ichigo's in its intensity, eyes bright with fury. 'F-Fuck…y-'

Gone was her head, body crumbling to the ground. Ichigo scoffed and fired the Hadō he had used to burn through her throat, right into the sea made of her compatriots. Now her soul had company during the trip to the lava pools.

That was one of the downsides of fighting against Sinners. You can kill them, but they won't stay dead. All you could do was hack them down, again and again, until their resolve crumbled. This is also easier said than done since Sinners have literally nothing to lose.

Pivoting on his heel, Ichigo blocked a punch to his head. Using the momentum, he beheaded the Sinner with a Bala to the temple.

Getsu was absolutely loving it. His presence was strong in the back of his mind and Ichigo could feel control slip away on occasion when the spirit got a bit too eager. He didn't mind. He couldn't remember the last time the Hollow-zanpakutō had this much fun.

Spotting a group diverging from the main mob, Ichigo took command. He ordered two Kushanada to abandon their current post and head over. Before the large group could take advantage of the decrease in guards, Ichigo dove straight into the thick of them. With Ceros and Getsuga Tenshōs he thinned the numbers rapidly.

A surge of pure energy rushed through him. Brown turning into brilliant blue. Ichigo tossed his main blade – skewering a handful – and inverted his grip on the smaller sword. A bow formed as he raised his arm, taking aim at an incoming threat. With expertise, he drew back the string and let loose. Hundreds of red-edged blue arrows fired at once, killing the aerial assault and extra.

Thanks, Zan. Ichigo resumed control, cutting down those who had crowded him.

Second-handed disgust pulled Ichigo's face into a sneer. Red energy gathered in his empty hand, his left still swinging the smaller blade with lethal precision. With his thumb, he nicked the inside of his index finger. A bead of blood pushed through the small wound, mixing with the energy growing in his palm.

Flicking his arm to the left, Ichigo unleashed the largest Gran Ray Cero he'd ever managed to create. It cleaved through the mass of souls like Moses did with the sea, leaving no trace of those who stood there rioting but a second prior. Only his main blade remained standing.

Sensing someone behind him, Ichigo spun left. Getsu's blade dislodged from the ground at his call. The hilt was caught mid-turn, vibrant red energy coating the edge. Ichigo swung the weapon with his momentum, releasing a silent Getsuga Tenshō that destroyed more than just the wannabe assassin.

The main blade pulsed with content now that it had returned into its wielder's hands. Still, the fingers of the unworthy were imprinted on the ebony steel and Getsu demanded retribution. A desire Ichigo did not mind fulfilling. Charging both blades with energy, he swung them cross-wise and bellowed, 'Getsuga Jūjishō!'

Taking to the sky, Ichigo observed the damage. The attack was still travelling, carving through the Sinners like a hot knife through butter. His brows knitted together as he noticed the lines were already filling up. The loss of their comrades did nothing to deter the wannabe-escapees, they trampled the survivors in the name of freedom.

How many fucking Sinners are in this riot?! I've been at it for hours and barely made a dent!

Long enough for those you have cut down first to have been reborn, it seems, Zan mused.

Great, so all I'm accomplishing is delaying them.

Ichigo pursed his lips, this approach would take too long. If he wanted to make sure this escape attempt would fail, he needed to kick it up a notch.

Say, Zangetsu?

The two spirits responded to his call. Their presence shifted from the blades in his hands to the back of his consciousness.

I'm gonna need Bankai to nip this in the bud. Any preference?

I would prefer ours if Getsu concurs, Zan replied. Otherwise, I believe his Bankai would be more effective against a crowd of this magnitude.

Ichigo nodded, Getsu?

The spirit withdrew and Ichigo let him, focusing back on the chaos around him. Silent Getsuga's were released in rapid succession, devastating the landscape and all who occupied it. Large ravines were cleft into the ground, separating the mass of Sinners and blocking some from their intended goal.

Normally, Ichigo would try to limit the amount of destruction he caused. Hell may be a sentient dimension but even they couldn't fix damage with a figurative wave of their hands. However, they were on the second layer, which was under construction. Hence why the riot was on this specific floor to begin with.

Ours.

Ichigo blinked, barely having caught the response. You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure, Getsu responded, much more confident now.

Last chance to change your minds, Ichigo said.

Our Bankai, both said in unison.

Alright. Ichigo turned back to the outside. He let his pressure rise, bringing many of the stronger souls to their knees and killing all who were weaker. The two blades were raised, brought side to side and…

'BAN-KAI!'

The rush of power that always accompanied the second release felt different this time. It didn't feel heavy, didn't weigh on his shoulders and put a strain on his soul like Zan's and Getsu's Bankai did. How had Ichigo never noticed that?

But he had, hadn't he? Both their Bankai… it had been suffocating him, crushing him under the weight of his own spiritual-pressure and it had never stopped being like that. Ichigo's had to practice, grow accustomed to the wear on his body until he could bear it. He hadn't known any better.

Then why did this feel so familiar? Ichigo couldn't remember ever feeling "like this" before, so where did this vague sensation of déjà vu come from? Was it…? It could be…he had been so focussed on Yhwach at the time but… had this been how he had felt during that battle? When he had first used this Bankai?

If so, Ichigo now understood the hesitance of his spirits. He would never want to separate either if being merged felt like this.

With a laugh, Ichigo launched himself into the fray. Tensa Zangetsu pulsed with absolute joy in his hands, bolstering his excitement. The blade was drenched in blood. Cleaned between victims with a quick and precise flick of the wrist before dirtied again. Each stab and slice felt like the first and neither weapon nor wielder could get enough.

It came to an end much too soon.

Ichigo grinned, pleased to have prevented the escape. It had taken him well over four hours to find all rebels and cut them down. Some stubborn Sinners tried again once they were reformed. Especially that pink-haired ex-Espada needed a few trips before it hit home.

Well done, Kurosaki, Hell's voice echoed in his mind. You have taken care of this small ruckus quite expertly.

'I wouldn't call it small', Ichigo responded. 'Do the Kushanada need my help?'

No, they can handle it from here.

In that case... Ichigo looked down at the blade in his hand, angling it to show the smudges of blood and dirt. Let's get you cleaned up.

#

Waves of content vibrated through the blade, warming his core more with each swipe of the cloth. Ichigo took his time removing every speck of dirt and blood from his zanpakutō. Swiping the cloth an extra few times just because he knew it was appreciated.

He could feel his zanpakutō mess with his core. Every so often, there was a gentle tug. One of the three powers would spike in response before settling down again, blending more and more with the other two. Before long, Ichigo couldn't even tell them apart.

With one last wipe, Ichigo held the blade up. The light reflected with crystal clear clarity against the stygian surface. Pride welled up within him, as it did every time he bathed in the results of his labour. He truly had a beautiful zanpakutō.

Adding another hand to the hilt, Ichigo dropped out of Bankai. Butterflies that were not his own were let loose in his stomach, fluttering around and drawing a laugh from his lips. He felt so warm and happy… he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

Laying the blades on his knees, Ichigo dropped into Jinzen. The smile on his face persisted as he arrived in his Mindscape. Perfect weather was what greeted him. A sun that shone brightly in an unblemished sky and a gentle breeze to keep the temperature bearable.

Knowing the spirit was close by, Ichigo opted to walk. He made his way through the knee-high grass and thigh-high shrubbery, the earth soft but solid beneath his feet. The wind changed direction, pushing into his back with strong bursts.

'Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming', Ichigo murmured through a smile. His zanpakutō's excitement was contagious, spurring him to increase his pace.

Gradually, his destination came into view. One of the few remaining skyscrapers that still resided in his Mindscape. The structure of glass, steel and concrete was wrapped in a coat of ivy and moss, drawing it together with the nature around it.

Pushing through the last barrier of green, Ichigo found the source of the purple signature.

The spirit looked over his shoulder, skilled hands quickly finishing the task they had been working in. Snow white strands were twisted into a bun, keeping it and the dark brown away from his eyes. Eyes that were mismatched and shining brighter than Ichigo had ever seen before.

'Finally caved under your curiosity?'

'How can I not?' Ichigo said as he walked over, sitting down beside the spirit. 'This has been nagging the back of my mind for, what? Forty years or something?'

'Has it been that long?' The spirit turned to face his wielder properly, 'It went by so fast and at the same time it took an eternity'.

'Time is funny like that', Ichigo agreed, allowing his eyes to take in the spirit before him.

He didn't look as old as Zan had been but he sure as hell didn't look the fifteen Getsu had been stuck with, either. Maybe mid-to-late twenties? Ichigo wasn't sure.

'What's that look for? Trying to figure me out?' the spirit asked.

'Yeah and it's giving me a headache', Ichigo said.

'How come?'

'Because when I look at you, my brain can't decide whether I'm looking at Zan or Getsu', Ichigo said, squinting with his eyes as he did. 'You're like one of those optical illusions. "Turn the page like this and the duck becomes a bunny" thing'.

The spirit blinked, then burst out laughing. The sound was foreign to his ears, yet bordered on familiarity. Neither a high-pitched cackle of glee nor a deep, hearty chuckle of amusement. Instead, it threaded a thin line between the two, lilting either way but never fully becoming one or the other.

Ichigo sighed, waving his hand. 'Yeah, yeah, laugh at me, why don't you'. He couldn't maintain his front of indifference for long. Hearing his zanpakuto laugh, hearing both Zan and Getsu in that laugh, was enough to break his façade.

He pulled a knee to his chest and leaned against it, watching as the spirit's laugh died down to chuckles.

'But... that is what you wanted, right?' he mused. 'Be one. Be balanced'.

The smile that formed was one Ichigo had never seen before, one that was foreign to both Zan and Getsu, yet fit them both so perfectly.

'It is what we were always meant to be'.

'The real you, huh?' Ichigo mused. He looked at his bare wrist, 'Only took... sixty years for us to meet'.

'You're probably the only Soul Reaper in existence to obtain both Shikai and Bankai before meeting the zanpakutō-spirit proper'.

'Dammit, you're right!' Ichigo wailed with faux-exasperation. 'And after all that work to do things in the right order!'

The spirit chuckled, 'I guess you will have to do it all over again'.

'Ugh'. Ichigo looked at his spirit, 'I can't seal you, though. Not without applying, like, seven on my pressure'.

'Ichigo, you have "obtained" Shikai twice already. I think we can gloss over those details for the sake of your sanity', the spirit deadpanned. 'However..' he gestured up with his hand and they both rose to their feet. '…I wouldn't mind a do-over myself'.

'Is that so?' Ichigo asked with a grin. 'Should I leave and give you a few minutes?'

The spirit rolled his eyes. 'Very funny', he said as he dusted off his clothes. With the nose of his boot, he hooked the cloak that lay on the ground and kicked it up. He whipped the cloak once before draping it over his shoulders. 'Well then, I apologise for the wait and trouble. I promise, this will be the last time'.

'If you say so, stranger'.

'Stranger? You entrust me with your back and wear me at your hip and you pretend to not know me? I'm hurt, Ichigo', the spirit said, placing both hands over his heart.

'I never said that', Ichigo corrected. 'I know who you were but not who you have become. For all I know, you have a different name'.

'True, true', the spirit conceded. 'Then let me cast away that doubt and introduce myself, for the last time'. With a grin that matched Getsu to a tee, the spirit bowed. 'The name's Zangetsu, pleased to finally meet you proper'.

'It was worth the wait'.

#

End

Bleach – Tite Kubo

Beta'd by Cyber dragonarmy

#

Again, this wasn't the story I intended to finish! For some reason, I just can't get myself to go over it one last time. Oh, well. I'm sure I will get it done eventually…maybe…hopefully.