Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo and BSD belongs to Kafka Asagiri.
AN: I can't believe I wrote this… Sorry for some bad grammar, English is not my first language and I post this without beta-read HEHE. Also, this is a blanket permission for anyone who want to adopt, translate, or expand this story. Just tag this story (and me) so I can read them! (:
At the end of the fight against Yhwach, Ichigo got killed. Unfortunately, because he was in his Shinigami's form, he immediately went to the Reincarnation cycle while his physical body disintegrated. The family mourned, waited and searched for months and years for his soul to reappear in Soul Society before finally accept the fact that yes, Ichigo is already reincarnated and definitely without his memories.
Which, fine. The guy deserve a change at having an unburdened and peaceful life, away from the blood and fighting and war.
(Even then, all of Shinigami who visited or stationed in the Living World, especially one Urahara Kisuke who stays in Karakura, will 'casually' search for that one unique soul, to at least make sure he's safe and sound. But alas.)
Meanwhile, Ichigo was reincarnated as Kashimura Ichigo, older twin brother of Kashimura Chuuya, three years after the end of Quincy Blood War. He is, of course, didn't remember anything just like any other normal reincarnation process even though Zangetsu and Ossan still reside in his soul, aware of what was going on but content to let Ichigo has a 'normal human life' and will definitely pick up a fight after the boy died again and wake up in Soul Society. Just like before, he's a doting older (by thirty three minutes!) brother, and they live a relatively normal life in Yokohama.
Except, when Chuuya was six, he activated his Ability and frightened his parents so much they got in touch with some shady government people and soldtheir youngest son (because, surprise surprise, their parents actually worked as criminals and knew shady people). Ichigo was there when they tried to take Chuuya, and Ichigo fought them so viciously he accidentally flared his Reiatsu so much the government official can feel them and decided to bring Ichigo too, thinking it was another form of Ability. Two birds in one stone and such. The parents already ran away with the money right after Ichigo fought the government officials, so there's no protest from that front.
When Ichigo and Chuuya was eight, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine happened.
Chuuya, after decimated the lab and created the crater on Suribachi City, woke up without his memories except the certainty that his name is Chuuya and the other boy, who looks so much like him, is his older brother Ichigo. They have the same orange-haired and nearly identical face, but blue eyes for Chuuya and brown eyes for Ichigo.
Ichigo, after Chuuya decimated the lab and created the crater on Suribachi City, woke up with his memories as Kurosaki Ichigo there-there-there-finally-Zangetsu-Ossan! resurface but his memories as Kashimura Ichigo still intact. He looked around and found Chuuya, remembered that the boy is his little brother and they experimented on him!
Ichigo, of course, took care of Chuuya even though the younger feel guilty about being useless. They live in the slums for more than a year because Chuuya still can't really control his ability and he didn't want to harm others. Ichigo worked first as runner to some criminal organizations, then after Chuuya recovered they became bodyguards/thugs in hire. During that year, Ichigo tried to settled his mind and body, to not forget about his reach and (lack of) power. To not call some familiar name, to not be tempted to search for someone, anyone from his old life. At least not until Chuuya able to move from this city.
Arthur Rimbaud found them after a year, wanting to check on A5158 but found two boys with flaming orange hair instead of one. Chuuya glowered while Ichigo interrogated him about what the fuck did they put inside his little brother, and after awhile Rimbaud finally caved in and told them about Arahabaki, an ancient Japanese god shrouded in mystery and how the government somehow caught it and decided to experimented on people using it to make artificial Ability. The government then found out it will be more successful to use a 'vessel' already awaken their Ability, but still young enough their body able to accept and adapt to foreign entity inside their body.
Ichigo, who fought oneimmortal and won, then fought and killed another other one, decided it's high time they got in touch with people from his previous life to find out whether this Arahabaki is really a god God or another high form of hollow and his brother got hollowfication.
He needs one Urahara Kisuke.
"Chu, there's something I need to tell you."
Chuuya titled his head. His older brother looks too serious than usual, so maybe whatever things he read from the files Rimbaud sent their way was bad. "What's up, Ichi-nii?"
Ichigo smiled a little at the nickname. He miss Yuzu and Karin so much, but if the news he found on the internet is true, his little sisters are now way older than him so the only one who will call him Ichi-nii is Chuuya.
Ichigo really thankful for the existence of his little brother, even when technically they're the same age. He didn't want to think about what would happened if he remembered his past life but didn't have Chuuya to hold on in this new, familiar yet unfamiliar, life.
(Also, he didn't want to think about Chuuya's life if Ichigo is not his twin. Waking up without memories, not even knowing his age, only remembered his first name and having a strange power to boot in the middle of a giant crate? He's very, very thankful to be there for Chuuya.)
"Listen, you're not the only one with strange power. I didn't really know how to explain this, but I'll try to make some sense."
Chuuya listened as his older brother told him about his previous life, having a family and strange ability to see ghost, about a Shinigami (!) named Rukia who save his life, about four teenagers and a cat decided to storm Soul Society aka The Afterlife (what the fuck) to stop her from being executed, unearthed centuries old of Conspiracy, became a Substitute Shinigami (while still alive?!) and fought some Hollow (ghost-monster?!), fought and sacrificed two third of his soul against an Immortal, and then fought a bloody war against Quincy (?) and killed another Immortal before died at eighteen. About how he re-born, didn't remember a thing (apparently it's the norm?) but after The Incident he remember about his past life anyway.
Chuuya knew his brother is an idiot with heart of gold, a protector and a fighter, but he didn't know it was this bad.
"I checked on the internet and found out that my old man still in Karakura and have his clinic, and my sister still played Futsal and participated in tournament –there's picture alongside the name and it's definitely Karin– so it's safe for us to go to Karakura and ask Getaboushi to help us figuring out Arahabaki," Ichigo finished his story, his eyes still watching his brother.
Chuuya blink rapidly for a few second before sighing, "Fine."
(He's not really processing all those shit, Ichigo knew that. In a few days the questions will come. Maybe. Hopefully without Chuuya disown him as his twin.)
As if reading his mind, the younger scowl. "Like hell I'll disown you, Ichi-nii. You're my twin."
Ichigo just smiled haplessly at the tiny nine years old. Chuuya is so tiny, tinier than him even when he tried to feed them healthy-ish food. So this is the infamous twin telepathy Yuzu and Karin always use, hm?
"We'll go to Karakura in two days. Pack up, Chu."
Chuuya kind of surprised but really not when Ichigo told him about his savings. Like, they're orphaned (or as good as one) living in a slum and his older brother actually has money? He knew Ichigo used to work with criminals, he even helps from time to time, not all time but enough to make his name and face known. Yokohama is crawled with criminals, mostly organized crime, especially after the Great War when poverty is on its all-time high and the city suddenly became a 'catnip' for Ability Users so it's not like there's nothing to do when you disregard morals and prioritize survival.
They brought all of their personal belongings, which only require one backpack, and Ichigo gave their neighbor the leftovers like tent, sleeping bag, and such. Chuuya put his hands inside the pocket of his brand-new hoodie ("because you outgrew the last one, Chu!" "Nii-san, go buy one more so we can match.") as he watched Ichigo reluctantly accept a small packet from the grandmother living next to their tent. A few minutes later, off they go.
They walk to Yokohama in silence, shoulders bruised against each other in a comfortable silence. It's familiar, this walk. They used to do this after Chuuya get the hang of his Ability, just walk around Yokohama aimlessly. When Chuuya became more confidant with his Ability, they walk on air, flying aimlessly while holding hands. This time, they have a destination in mind but the walk still comforting.
During the train ride to Karakura, which only took less than an hour, Ichigo told him about the people from his previous life. Goat-face, Yuzu, Karin. The other three teenagers who went with him to the afterlife to save a friend. His other friends from school. The Urahara Shoten. The Shinigami he fought and befriend, the Arrancar, the Visored who adopted him unofficially. His Zanpakutou, Zangetsu and Ossan.
Chuuya wants to meet them. He wants to have a family. In the year since The Incident, he didn't remember what his life before, but even with their hardship as street rats, Chuuya is happy. He has his brother, he can control his Ability and deactivated them on whim, they can fly around, they can eat relatively well, and Chuuya learns to read and write on the little 'school' for other kids living on the slum. But.
Having a family… will definitely be nicer.
(And Ichigo will surely be happy and safe. Happier and safer than living in the slum. Chuuya still can't help to feel guilty, how his brother had to do the hard work while Chuuya recovered. Ichigo just smile and ruffled his hair, told him he can help after he recovered. But still, Chuuya wants his brother to be happy.)
Soon enough, they arrived at Karakura. The walk to the Shoten is a familiar one, and Ichigo can't help but smile a little. Besides him, Chuuya grip his arm hesitantly, making Ichigo shrug his hand from his arm and grab his finger instead.
They arrived in front of a familiar, familiar door, and for a second, Ichigo closed his eyes, feeling the familiar reiatsu from the Shopkeeper. Even after all these years, the building haven't change at all. A beat, two beat, then his small(ish) hand opened the door.
"Oi, Getaboushi!"
In a second, a familiar man wearing a dark green Shihakushō, a black haori, a striped dark green and white bucket hat, and a pair of geta appear in front of him.
"Maa, who do we have here—"
Ichigo watched as Urahara Kisuke, infamous for being unflappable and having a great poker face, stuttered for a few seconds before falling to his knees in front of him. Behind him, Chuuya tightened his hold on his hand, trembling minutely.
Urahara watch him, meet his eyes as his reiatsu flared. Ichigo, in return, flared his. The shopkeeper choked, "Ichigo?"
Ichigo smiled a little. "Hei, Getaboushi. It's been a while, huh. Sorry, I'm late."
Urahara stilled for a few seconds, before finally laughing. It's a beautiful sound, because when was the last time Ichigo heard the Shopkeeper laugh like that, relieved and happy?
"Ichigo! You really are unpredictable, huh?" he laugh again before standing up. "You're so tiny and cute! Let's get you inside, do you want me to contact Isshin?"
Ichigo shrugged before tugging on his hand that connected to Chuuya. "Yup. This is the first stop. Is Yuzu and Karin around? Might as well as do the whole reunion."
"Fine, fine. Let's get you something to eat, its lunch time already."
"You mean Tessai-san will cook something? You still can't cook… right? Let's have a takeout if Tessai-san is not around."
The fan came up from nowhere and tap the top of Ichigo's head gently. "So cheeky. Where's the attitude comes from?"
They bicker on their way to the kitchen. With each interaction, Ichigo notices his little brother becoming more relax, and inwardly he smiled. Good.
When they arrived at the kitchen, it's to the view of Tessai, after taking one look at them, dropped his jaw before his eyes glistened.
"Kurosaki-kun."
"Hei, Tessai-san." Ichigo waved his free hand, before tugging his other hand, making Chuuya stumbled and stand a little bit in front of him. "This is my little brother, Chuuya."
"Mou, we're twin, nii-san! And I'm not little!"
"You still called me nii-san, though."
Chuuya pout. "Still not little."
Ichigo chuckled before taking him to one of the chair. "You're tinier than me."
"I'mma be taller than you!"
Ichigo's eyes meet Urahara's bewildered one, like the former Twelfth Captain didn't feel Chuuya at all. Weird and scary. "The reincarnation part gone right, but some shit happened and I remembered. We're biologically twins and around nine years old."
Urahara's eyes sparked a little in interest before he waved his fan. "I'll call Isshin. The two of you go eat something."
"Yeah, yeah."
The reunion is both heartwarming and heartbreaking for Ichigo. Isshin yelled at him and then tried to kill him via hug and then yelled again at him while still holding on tightly. Yuzu elbowed their father away in an uncharacteristic way –or maybe not because surely in the last twelve years his little sisters have grown up and develop some unfamiliar habits– before hugging him tightly. Karin rubbed her knuckle on Ichigo's head so hard he elbowed his little (older) sister away. After more yelling and tears and knuckles-on-head, they finally settled down around the desk on Urahara's living room.
"Guys, this is Chuuya, my little brother." Ichigo promptly started while putting his arm around Chuuya's shoulders, making the younger stumbled into his older brother's chest.
"Nii-san!"
Isshin cooed at the nearly identical faces of his two sons –because he's definitely going to adopt his son's little brother. Yuzu smiled so bright at Chuuya, making him blush heavily and tried to squirm away from his twin's hold.
"We're twin, Ichi-nii, just because you were born first didn't mean I'm little."
Ichigo hug him tighter. "Nope. You're tiny."
Chuuya growled in annoyance before huffing in defeated and thumped his brother's chest with his (tiny) head.
The three Kurosaki, Urahara, and Tessai watched the interaction with fond smiles. They feel happy and glad, finally found the one soul dear to them.
"How old are you now, Ichigo?"
Ichigo blinked at Urahara. "Eh, nine years old? I think we were born April 29."
Chuuya shrugged.
Urahara hummed, opening his fan to hide the lower part of his face. "What happened? You told me 'The reincarnation part gone right, but some shit happened and I remembered'."
Ichigo shrugged. "You all need to promise me no murder."
"No promise!"
Chuuya smiled a little at the surprisingly cheery tone from the Shopkeeper, while Ichigo glowered (or more likely pout… but they won't bring that fact up until way later).
"Chuuya and I was born in Yokohama to a pair of shitty parents. At around six, Chuuya activated his ability-"
"For the Tainted Sorrow."
"-and our shitty parents decided to sold him to some Japanese Government for some Ability Experimentation. Of course I refuse to let him go so they decided to bring me too after thinking my reiatsu is Ability. When we were eight-"
"You spent two years as human experiments?!"
"-two foreign spies decided to let us go but something went wrong and Chuuya became Arahabaki the God of Calamity's vessel-"
"WHAT"
"-then promptly lost control and destroyed the labs. The huge crater on Suribachi City was all his, not mine. Chuuya woke up without his memories except for his and my name, I woke up regaining my memories as Kurosaki Ichigo. Decided to stay around Yokohama's slum while Chuuya recovered and gain control of his Ability. A few weeks ago one of the foreign spies pops up and after some interrogation he spill the bean about what the fucking experiments were about and then we decided to come back here. Getaboushi, please check whether the thing inside Chuuya is indeed a Fucking God or a high form of Hollow."
Ichigo sat back to watch while the other five tried to process the information he dumped on them in amusement, while Chuuya curiously peered through his eyelashes to the two Ichigo introduced as his sisters. Yuzu catches Chuuya's eyes and smiled again, making the youngest blush. Karin snickered
"Ne, Kurosaki-kun, mind if I ask about your new name?"
Ichigo scowled, "No murder!"
Urahara had the gall to pout at him before swayed his fan around. "You know I can't do anything to the living."
"Uh huh. Like you didn't have some plans to side step that rule."
"So Chuuya-kun," Yuzu intercepted their bickering smoothly, "do you want to stay with us?"
Chuuya looked at the people around him, people his nii-san called family and one he hope able to be part of.
"Please."
Yuzu smiled.
The years goes by quickly. Every weekend, they went to Urahara Shoten because Chuuya want to train his Ability and Ichigo just miss being there. While he didn't have any Shinigami power, Ichigo still trained his body in kenjutsu, karate, kyūdō, and any other martial arts he can grabbed. Isshin still has questionable parenting style, but it was tempered by the fact that there's no more war against or within Soul Society. By middle school –and they decided to enroll to a different school than the one Ichigo went before– they were infamous for their flame orange hair but this time, Ichigo is more settled and mild tempered while Chuuya is the aggressive one. They both still help people in need, still blunt and too honest, and still beat up thugs and yakuza who disturb them.
The year they went to high school, Chuuya talk to Ichigo:
"Ichi-nii, after we graduated high school I want to go back to Yokohama."
Ichigo scowled and crossed his arms. "Why?"
(Even when he already kind of know why. He knew for the past weeks Chuuya have read news about something from Yokohama. Something caught his twin's attention, and Ichigo prayed it wasn't something troublesome like Shinigami.)
"So there's this detective agency…"
"Uh huh."
"…focused on solving crimes which are considered too violent or difficult for the metropolitan police to handle. All of their members have Abilities," Chuuya rushed to explain. He knew very well how protective his twin of him, even when they grew up in a (relatively) safe environment.
Ichigo softened for a bit, watching his little brother carefully. The past few years are a blessing in disguise for him. He may feel frustrated to be treated like a kid from time to time, but this second change at childhood heal his mind and soul. Chuuya help a lot. The kid is so bright, so warm, Ichigo always want to protect him.
(It baffled him how Chuuya sometimes feels like he's not human, with the way Arahabaki's power crawling under his skin. Ichigo always thought that his twin is so human with the way he wear his heart on his sleeves.)
(And yeah, Arahabaki is a literal God and not Hollow. Urahara tested it a few dozen times. Ichigo still can't believe his life, sometimes.)
"You know you're not obligated to have an Ability-focused career, right?"
Because outside of weekly sparring with Urahara and any Shinigami decided to pop up to Karakura –crazy lot that Chuuya beginning to love, all of them, and the reunion between Ichigo and them are so fucking chaotic Chuuya still laugh about it but that's story for another day– Chuuya used his Ability every day for tiny, mundane things. Bringing down bowls and cups from high selves, changing bulb, storing their groceries… Isshin always watch with fond eyes, Karin always tease him by putting more cutleries on high selves, and Yuzu always buy Chuuya's favorite food when she visited on odd days.
Ichigo is very, very grateful for his family accepting Chuuya as another child, as the youngest son.
(In another life, Chuuya still used his Ability for everyday use, but he also use them for offense, tackling and sending back bullets, crushing skulls, killing people. From young age he would learn how valuable his Ability is, and how far people will push to have his Ability on their grasp. From young age he will chant ten words which doomed him, but at the same time, bind him to the one person who might as well be his soulmate.)
Chuuya unconsciously fingered the back of his neck. Ichigo tried not to frown hard (and failed).
"But I still want to help," Chuuya told him with firm voice and firmer eyes. They sit in silence for a few seconds before Ichigo finally nod.
"Fine. But you need to go to college too. Ask for part time or something."
Chuuya brightened. "Ok!"
"And you're the one who tell Oyaji, Yuzu, and Karin."
"Done."
"And I'm coming with you."
Chuuya just smiled. "I already make a list of University with good English Lit program or Med School in Yokohama."
Ichigo just sigh before ruffled his twin's hair fondly.
Fucking twin telepathy.
When they were both eighteen, already graduated high school and ready to move (back) to Yokohama, there's a lot of people sending them off.
(Even though the two of them knew some Shinigami will leave their gigai and spy them until they reach Yokohama and maybe more. Understandable, because the last time Ichigo reached eighteen, he got himself killed by some old man.)
Urahara gave them phones with so much modification they won't run out of batteries and memories and will always have signal they probably can receive call from Venus –and definitely will reach Soul Society. Chuuya pretend to not notice how his older twin makes googly eyes toward the Shopkeeper and the Shopkeeper looks back, while also makes a mental note to talk about starting a bet with Yoruichi. He hugs his older sisters and his nephews, get his hair ruffled by his Oyaji, his back thumped by so many Shinigami he can't keep count, and get another box from Urahara. The Shopkeeper only wink.
They shuffled to their brand new second-hand car, had an intense jan-ken-pon to decide who will drive, and when Chuuya promptly lose, pout hard until his twin caved and gave him the car keys.
"Cheater."
"You still caved in."
Chuuya started the car, shout another goodbye to the people he can finally call family, and drive off.
Ichigo just smiled at the younger.
"Of course."
END… for now.
Omake
Two years later:
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SHITTY DAZAI!"
"Hmm."
"He just decided to flirt with the suspect. THE SUSPECT."
"Uh huh."
"Then after she ran away, pushed me to catch her while he wandered around!"
"Uh huh."
"Nii-san, listen to me!"
"I did."
"Lie!"
"You only complain about your newest, pretty co-worker."
"HE'S NOT PRETTY!"
