Ichigo shot straight up when something collided with the door. Years of living on edge just waiting for one of Aizen's Espada to show up trained that into him. He was out of the berth and in the living room between one breath and the next. His hand closing on the perceived threat and the other pushing the twins behind him.

It took a moment longer before his mind caught up with him. Ichigo blinked at the strange mech gasping and griping in his hand. A mirror image of himself, opposite colors, matching gold optics, and a smirk.

"Hey Kingie, long time no see." The white and black flyer grins.

"Zangetsu?"

"You know him?" the twins echoed each other.

"You're a twin?" Ratchet shouts from the door. He apparently just showed up in time to see Ichigo go on the attack. "Why didn't you mention this," he growls.

"Who else but your dear horse come to find his-ack, let go let go."

"Not in front of the kids," Ichigo gives a warning squeeze before letting the physical appearing zanpakuto go. "and truthfully I thought he was dead," it was somewhat the truth. He thought that he had lost the hallow and zanpakuto.

Zangetsu wiggles his digits, "surprise!"

"Wow!" Sideswipe no longer afraid teleported from behind Ichigo to in front of Zangetsu. "I never met another twin before!"

"Wow King, you got all domestic on me," the white flyer crouches down in front of the small mechling. "Then again you were always taking up strays."

Sunstreaker stayed back and scowl at the newcomer. He didn't trust this mech, something seems off about this mech. He tilted his helm, now that he noticed something always seem different about Ichigo too.

"How did you find me?" Sunstreaker watched as Ichigo stood next to the white mech.

"Aw King," the other flyer leaned in, "I'll always know where to find you."

"Why do you call him King?" Sideswipe asks. He had started climbing Ichigos back. Sunstreaker was glad that for once he didn't share in his brother's curiosity.

Zangetsu shrugs, "Cuz he's King. Though I can still take the crown." He winks at the black flyer.

Ichigo rolled his optics, "right, that has worked out so well for you in the past." He smiles and hugs his twin, "Missed you."

Sunstreaker watches as that all-knowing smirk vanishes and is replaced with a soft smile that looks almost foreign on the flyer. "Yeah, missed ya too."

Ratchet chooses that moment to speak, "Alright enough of this hugs fest." He whips out a scanner, "Now you two hold still."

Ichigo sends a quick warning about not pissing off medics to Zangetsu. The white mech was tempted to do something but visions of a certain Soul Captain had him freezing. Nope, not going to be angering any beings that know how to slowly take you apart.

Ichigo still hanging off the other, shivered as the scanner swept over them. Ratchet hums when the results pinged. "Well, that explains some things. You two need to go recalibrate your sparks. Ichigo your sparks have been straining for a long time."

"Uh calibrate?"

"Yes…you have no idea what I am talking about; do you?"

The two flyers and the younger twins shook their heads. No, they had no idea what the medic was talking about and would he be so kind as to explain it. In small words, please.

Ratchet groans, "Of course, why am I always stuck explaining these things." He sighs, "okay, Sunstreaker; Sideswipe you two listen to. You'll need to know this once you reach adulthood. Twins are made up of a single spark that split between them. When they are still sparklings the sparks can be more flexible. Just being near each other takes the strain off it. As the sparks mature, that flexibility lessons and the need for more physical interaction strengthens." Ratchet sighs, "the nature and the reasons for this aren't largely known. We simply don't know a lot about the nature of twins. Sadly, most of what we know comes after the fact. And most of it is misunderstood. My advice is to go what feels natural," he eyes the two flyers, "what are you two feeling currently?"

Ichigo looks at Zangetsu and Zangetsu looks at Ichigo. "A tugging," Ichigo answers.

"There you have it," Ratchet waves towards Ichigo's room. "I'll take the bitties out for fuel; you two do what you need too."

Zangetsu doesn't wait for the medic and the young twins to leave before shoving Ichigo towards the room. He throws the black mech on the berth before climbing on top of him.

"You-

"Relax King," the white flyer nuzzles his mirror image neck. "Let your fateful horse take care of ya." Ichigo huffs but lets his new twin do as he pleases, within limits.

"Any idea how to do this?"

"Whatever that medic said, what feels right," the white flyer mumbles into Ichigo's plating. He jerks his head up when the sound of metal moving, and a bright golden light filled the darkened room.

Ichigo smirks, "This feels right," he raises an optic ridge. Waiting on his twin to follow suit.

Zangetsu smirks back and lets his chest plates shift away showing an equally bright gold light. Small leaders reached out from each pulsing spark. With a gentleness rarely shown Zangetsu pulls them together and both gasps. The feeling was stronger than anything they had felt before. Overpowering the feeling of a shattered soul being put back together. They turned into I and a sense of oneness filled them. Ichigo was Zangetsu and Zangetsu was Ichigo. A familiar and yet foreign feeling and Ichigo clung to.

All to soon they separated, their sparks returning to their crystals. Ichigo sobbed at the lost, but he no longer felt the aching hole that once radiated pain from the core of his being. Zangetsu pulling him in and held on tightly.

"It's aright King, I will never leave ya again."

Ichigo clung onto Zangetsu as a child would their favorite stuff toy. The white flyer covers them with the mesh blanket, hiding them from the world. And for the next few hours, they rested in their own little world, a blanket the only barrier between them and reality.

Zangetsu only stirred when Ratchet stepped into the room and did a quick scan of them. The flyer gave him a glare which the medic returns before huffing and shooing the younger twins back out. Zangetsu waited until they were away from the door before whispering.

"What is with you picking up strays King?"

Sometime in the middle of the cycle, their room was invaded again but Ichigo stopped Zangetsu from growling when it turned out to be Sunstreaker and Sideswipe climbing into the berth with them. They snuggled in the dip between the two larger frames.

"Seriously King?"

"Shut up…explain later."

"Whatever."

The next orn Ichigo was on his way to work with Zangetsu in tow. "You don't have to follow me," Ichigo sighs.

"But King, I want to see what you do!"

"You'll get bored, why didn't you want to stay with Ratchet and the twins." Ichigo stopped short, "on second thought, it's best if you and Sideswipe aren't left unsupervised."

Zangetsu chuckles, "Nah."

"…do the twins make you nervous?" Ichigo suddenly asks.

The white flyer huffs, "no."

"Then why didn't-

"Is it so hard to believe that I don't want us to be separated again!" Zangetsu snaps. "Do you know how hard it was to suddenly feel like you weren't there. Then when we were so close to coming back, you disappeared." Zangetsu leans into Ichigo's back, "I and the old man couldn't find you," he whispers.

Ichigo stands still and glares at any who stopped and stared. They quickly walked on ignoring the two flyers. The black flyer sighs turning his head, "I'm sorry."

Zangetsu chokes, "it's not like you had any control." He leans away hiding his face from Ichigo.

"Come on, we're going to be late for our shift." Ichigo doesn't continue the topic. They would speak more of it once they were behind closed doors. "Oh, and don't terrify my friends."

Zangetsu snorts, "Ha I bet they are just like your old friends."

Once they reached the docks Zangetsu whistled at how large the area was. Ichigo had to steer him out of larger mechs and loaders way. They were almost at the warehouse that Ichigo worked at when Zangetsu spotted the small group first.

"I called it, you just can't help yourself can ya King?" he teases, "One's the tough one, one's the meek one, and one is-

"Nothing like my last friends. You'll see once you meet them, now be nice."

"Ichigo!" Arial yells. The pink femme came running up, "Have you heard what happen?" she vents

Ichigo scrunches his face, "Heard what?"

"Ichigo!" Orion calls after seeing Arial run off.

"Who's that?" Dion asks once spotting the white flyer next to Ichigo.

Ichigo nearly panics until he remembered what Ratchet said, "m-my twin."

Orion blinks, "you have a twin?"

"Why didn't you say anything!" Arial smiles, "Hello, I'm Arial and this is Orion and Dion." She got close to Zangetsu who back away.

"uh, he just got out of the medical center. Feeling so many new mechs throws him off," Ichigo hurriedly explained. He ignored the scowl sent his way.

"…Yeah, didn't know where Ichi ended up. Took a while to track em down." Zangetsu grins. Dion shivers at the grin and Zangetsu mentally chuckles. 'these new friends maybe more fun.'

Ichigo scowl in his direction as if he knew what his mirror image was thinking. Zangetsu only smirks back, "Surprised me to find he had some kids of his own."

Arial perked up, "oh yes they are such cute mechlings."

Orion nods, "If Ichigo was living alone raising those two we would be more concerned. Even if he says that there is another mech living with them."

"Guys," Ichigo sighs.

"Well, ya'll don't have to worry. With me here Ichi will have all the help he can get."

"Or be taking care of another sparkling," Ichigo mutters. Zangetsu gives him a mock dismay look.

"Have you no fate in me King?"

"Like a truthful politician," Ichigo gives him his most deadpan expression.

"Ouch."

The trio of mechs watches the two. Dion was still suspicious of the white flyer. Arial thinking that they were a cute couple and Orion wondering how come Ichigo never mention a sibling before. He was getting the nerve to ask when the whistle for the first shift blew.

"Are you joining Ichigo this orn?" he heard Arial asks. He could see Ichigo glaring daggers at his twin.

"Nah, looks boring." Zangetsu tilted back wings giving a lazy flutter. "Might be by to mess with him later though," he gives the pink femme a wink.

Orion growls his engine. Dion and Ichigo sigh with the black flyer reaching over and thwapping his twin upside the helm. Zangetsu hisses back but he steps back from the amused femme. Orion was suddenly by her side glaring, as much as he could manage, at the flyer.

"We'll meet you inside Ichigo," he says stiffly. Dion waves at the duo before following his friends in.

Ichigo waits until they were out of earshot before whirling on Zangetsu, "really?"

"What; can't a mech flirt with a pretty woman?" he answers with no shame.

"Not one already spoken for," Ichigo huffs.

"Doesn't look like she is might want to suggest he step it up," Zangetsu laughs.

Ichigo sighs, "I know."

Zangetsu watched as Ichigo went inside before shooting up in the air. It had been a shock to suddenly materialize in front of a pair of robots. Then to have a being the felt like his King come shooting out of nowhere and start choking him. It was only after staring into those molten orbs that he knew who was choking and snarling at him. He had been so happy that the spinning feeling in his chest felt like it would leap out. Then that merge, it felt like they were one being again only better. Zangetsu hadn't believed that the old man had pulled this off and he didn't care how temporary it was. To be with his welder again after watching him tear himself apart.

For the short time that he was here, Zangetsu was going to make sure that his King didn't end up in the same situation as before. Even if that meant he had to be nice to those two little runts and that scary healer.

"At least that healer has a backbone," the flyer mutters. He stands on the roof of a building near the docks. He knew that his King could do things without him watching and he was telling the truth of coming by later. For now, he wanted to see the world he and Ichigo ended up in. With a cackle, Zangetsu shoots up into the sky and jets off.

Throughout the orn Ichigo got a bad feeling as he felt smug joy over the new/renews bond he had with Zangetsu. He was just waiting for the Enforcers to storm the warehouse to arrest him. He checked with Ratchet and the twins and they hadn't seen his zanpakuto all orn.

"Ichigo, your twin is here!"

The once human sighs in relief before waving at Orion. The smaller mech grunts but most of the frosty attitude was nearly thawed. He hoped that the small mech was still talking to him the next shift. He was starting to enjoy the mech's presence.

"Ichigo, take your creepy twin somewhere else. He's scaring the customers," the dockmaster yelled from his office.

"More like making you uncomfortable," Ichigo mummers. Once he steps out of the warehouse, he looks for his wayward zanpakuto.

"Up here!"

Ichigo looks up to see the other flyer perched like a gargoyle on the roof of the warehouse across from his workplace. He was giving everyone looking his way a fanged smile. Ichigo could see why the dockmaster was claiming he was scaring mechs off. Even knowing him as he did, Zangetsu was starting to creep him out.

"Get down here!"

The white flyer grins, "why don't you come up here?" He laughs until he hears thrusters and then Ichigo is in his face.

Zangetsu flips back with a yelp. He transforms to get away but Ichigo was right behind him. His laughter was louder as he led his King on a merry chase through Iacon air space. He cheerfully ignored repeated pings from strangers though when Ichigo started to decelerate he knew that someone got through. Well, he couldn't have that; they were just started to have fun.

So, when a trio of different flyers came at them from the opposite direction. Zangetsu couldn't help himself. "Don't even think about!" Ichigo snarled.

"Oh, but King," he says sweetly. "I have already thought about and going through with it."

With loud cackling, Zangetsu flips up transforms and lands on the jet that looked a lot like Starscream. The sound that came out of the jet only confirmed it. Which, Ichigo was confused seeing how the annoying mech was supposed to be off-planet. The red flyer tries to the amusement of his friends to buck the white flyer off. Zangetsu cackles as he lazily rolls off the flyer and transforms behind him. he shoots non-fatal lasers at the red flyer whose unholy screeched had everyone in the air and on the ground covering their audios.

Feeling a tick mark forming, Ichigo jumps in the air transforming as he flew over Zangetsu and Starscream and snagged his twin behind the cockpit and flip him over. While shoving his foot in Starscreams aft, mostly because he felt like it.

"King!"

"Shut Up Zangetsu!" Ichigo growls riding his twin who was doing his best to buck him off.

"You little insolent welp!" Starscream came roaring up behind them. His two friends close behind but not joining him.

"So sorry Screamer but we'll have to talk about your disfunction another time," Ichigo kicked his twin whose thrusters screamed as they pulled away from the red flyer.

As Starscreams loud obscenities faded Ichigo growls some of his own. "what the hell were you thinking; I could get fired for your stunts!"

Zangetsu cackles before barrel rolling and dumping Ichigo on the ground. Knowing what his twin was about to do Ichigo twist mid-air and lands on his feet instead of his aft. He freezes when he gets a round of applause, a small group of younglings, younger than the twins clapped at him. He gives them a small hesitant wave before walking away.

A ping from his boss had him flinching: yes?:

: DO you know how much trouble you're in:

: Enough that I won't get fired:

:…Fired? Mech your little stunt has brought me new business: Ichigo blinks: I want you and your twin here every orn. I already had five trines and two business mechs come to me asking about you and how much I charge:

Ichigo could hear the grin his boss had: okay: he said warily.

: That the rest of the orn off and report back, with your twin, next orn for your new assignment:

His boss clicked his side off before Ichigo could even respond. He stood in shock before Zangetsu bump into him. "Hey King, were where you at?"

Ichigo turns amber optics on his twin, "you just got hired and we both had new jobs starting tomorrow."

Zangetsu snorts, "Don't feel like it, I-

Ichigo grips white shoulders and gives a most terrifying smile, "You wouldn't dare cause me to lose a good opportunity that would see my twins having a better chance for their needs; would you?"

Zangetsu, for once, feared that smile, "n-no I l-love my cu-cute little nephews."

Ichigo pats his shoulders, "good."

The sound of someone clearing their intakes had both freezing before looking over their shoulders. Four Guardsmen stood behind them. Weapons drawn but not raised and standing in the center arms crossed over a red chassis was Ironhide.

"Um, afternoon Hide," Ichigo swallows.

"Young'un, what's this I hear about you flying all over creation and picking fights?" Ironhide scowls.

"uh, to be honest, I wasn't picking fights."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to get King here to loosen up!" Zangetsu pipes in.

Ironhide looks over at the unknown white flyer, "and who are you?"

"He's my twin."

"I'm this idiots twin," they said at the same time though Ichigo scowled at the other mech when being called an idiot.

"Whaaa?"

"Yeah, Ratchet can confirm it if you-

"You had a twin?" Ironhide whispers, "Oh my Primus," he groans.

Ichigo turns his scowl on the red guard, "Seriously?"

"I thought your littles were bad. Now we have to deal with a grown version that can fly."

"Hey!"

Zangetsu cackles, "I actually find that a compliment."

"You would," Ichigo mutters. He fluffs out his armor letting it resettle before sighing. He had knots in his cables that he hadn't noticed before. "If we're done-

"Yeah," Ironhide waves at them, "don't go causing no trouble for now on."

Zangetsu gives him a fanged smile, "no promises." Ichigo thwaps him on the head.

Above them a familiar mech circles. Ironhide groans, "you didn't."

"Sorry Hide," Ichigo mumbles.

"No shame," Zangetsu grins.

"We're leaving," Ichigo grabs his twin and makes a run for it. Flyers were the fastest in the sky but get them on the ground they were the slowest. But Ichigo was not a usual flyer, he could leave most ground frames in the dust while in root mode. It had surprised all his friends when he showed a preference for walking more than flying.

After leaving the four Guardsmen to deal with Starscream and his friends. Ichigo took his twin to his favorite café. It was on the low end of town near the docks. It was cheap fuel, but the quality was great, better than most high-end cafés produced. And it had, in his opinion, the best view of the silver-colored river.

He comm Ratchet and asked him to bring the twins and joined them at the café. Zangetsu was looking around and couldn't stop staring. Ichigo smiled, he was the same when he first came to the docks. The sight of a river of silver was stunning enough. Even if it wasn't silver but the result of a reaction between runoff and chemicals. It had surprised him to find large bodies of water, they were just cleverly disguised.

"So," Zangetsu started.

"Yeah," Ichigo said. "I haven't gotten used to it yet."

"I don't think you can. It's certainly not something ya see before." Zangetsu sips the small cube placed in front of him.

Ichigo waited, he wanted to see his twin's reaction to the pink liquid energy. He was not disappointed, Zangetsu froze for a second, his wings shot up and near vibrated. He slowly placed the cube down on the table and gave Ichigo a confused near hyper look. Ichigo smiled and nodded, "I know feel free to start bouncing."

Zangetsu couldn't help it, "it's so buzzy. Little a thousand little vibrators un my skin."

Ichigo smirked as his twin started to literally bounce in his seat. "Just wait until he tried the other things they concocted."

Zangetsu snaps his head at, "you mean there's more?"

"Oh, so much more," Ichigo waves over the waitress, "we'll have your sampler plate, and two youngling cubes and Ratchets medic special."

The waitress smiles take their orders and hurry back behind the counter. Unlike the cafes and restaurants near the more upscale parts of the city. The family-run cafés and fuel vendors still physically took their patron's orders instead of having them placing an order through an ordering system. Ichigo found them to be too impersonal and annoying.

The sampler plate consisted of two oil cakes, four rust sticks, three gel top wafers, and four crystal crunchies with silver flakes. Ichigo usually order it due to that it was a meal on its own and can feed his small family and no one would go home hungry, and it was affordable. The oil cakes could be split, Ratchet didn't like rust sticks, but the twins did, Ichigo preferred the wafers, and everyone got a crunchy. With Zangetsu they might have to adjust everything, so everyone got a share.

By the time the plate and the cubes came out Ratchet pulls up with the twins. The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying good food and listening to the twins orn. Sideswipe had taken an instant liking to Zangetsu and Ichigo dreaded on what havoc the two would get up too.

Ratchet pulled his aside as they left the café, "I did a physical evaluation on the twins today."

"Oh?" one wing tilted in question.

"Yes, its almost time for their final upgrades."

"Upgrades? Like what you did for me after we moved in with Wheeljack?"

Ratchet nods, "correct." He walked with beside Ichigo heading towards the transportation lane, "I am going to need some blueprints of a basic frame type. All the customizations come later."

Ichigo hesitated, "I don't' know Ratch. We're kind of short on credits."

Ratchet waved his concern off, "I ain't asking for credits. I'm doing this for free and Wheeljack has most of the parts already. Those two are like our mechlings anyway."

Ichigo looked at him, "no one paid for mine?"

"Well, you were still considered a youngling when we met," Ratchet shrugs.

"I'll…get together with the twins and see what we come up with."

The medic nods, "I'll see you four back at the warehouse. There is something I need to tell you that isn't for public audios."

Feeling a little concern Ichigo watched the medic transformed and drove away before calling the twins over. Zangetsu was already up in the sky waiting for them. From long practice, the Sideswipe and Sunstreaker leap up and flipped into his cockpit still chattering away. Ichigo gave them a little touch of amusement from his field.

With Zangetsu at his wing, they took their time flying back to the warehouse. They arrived at the same time Ratchet pulled up. Sensing that whatever Ratchet had to say was better when they were alone. Zangetsu took the two hellions and left them alone in the main room.

Ichigo becomes more concerned when Ratchet made him sit on the plushy couch. The medic's gray faceplates were frowning his blue optics full of concern. A feeling of familiarity hit Ichigo's full force.

"Ichigo," Ratchet whispers. The flyer hiked up his wings his spark pulsing fast in his chest, "Skyfire was lost during his long-range expedition."