Chapter 1: A Choice
Ichigo watched as Aizen raged and screamed at Urahara as his body was being sealed away, the former transcendent being's anger at the Soul King reaching a fever pitch before his form was finally sealed.
Ichigo and the candy shop owner's eyes widened as the construct containing Aizen gave a lurch and a small ball, that they both recognized as the Hogyoku burst from the construct, the hole it formed sealing up as it floated in front of it. The air seemed to still as it gave off a presence as if judging them both, Urahara falling to his knees as it projected an emotion of lacking before it focused solely on Ichigo, his body shaking from both its gaze and the after-effects of the Final Getsuga Tenshou.
Ichigo shakily tried to stand, his body protesting before the world shifted and his arms gave out, his vision going black.
"Kurosaki!" he heard Urahara yell before all sense faded and he knew nothing more.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So you're awake,"
Ichigo groaned as he pushed himself up, turning to the voice and opening his eyes to find himself looking at a familiar face.
"Rukia…" he said, pausing as his vision focused and he realized that while the thing in front of him looked like Rukia, its stiff body language and shining blue eyes were a dead giveaway. Pushing himself to stand and move away from the fake Rukia he realized he was in his inner world, the skyscrapers that had once populated it covered in rust. Looking further out he could see that parts of it were fading, the buildings disintegrating and leaving nothing but an empty void where they'd been. "What is…." he tried to speak only for his mouth to feel dry and his chest ached, he knew what was happening.
"The results of your Final Getsuga Tenshou," fake-Rukia said, a hint of pity in her tone and eyes that sparked rage inside of Ichigo before it petered out almost instantly leaving him feeling hollow.
"Who are you?" he asked, gaze still looking out to the fading landscape, hand clenched over his heart.
"Who are you?" She asked, moving to stand beside him, looking out at the landscape, "Do you even know?"
"I'm not playing games here!" Ichigo shouted, grabbing 'her' by the collar, looking down at Fake Rukia with exasperation as he was met with a stoic look, "What's going on?" he asked, letting the fake go with a sigh.
The fake tilted its head, before looking back out to the fading landscape, a contemplative look on its face before it opened its mouth.
"I am God," it said, a ghost of a smirk on its face at Ichigo's disbelieving look, "Well…. I am a fragment of what was once God," it raised its hand and with a snap of its fingers, they were now in front of a hideous beast that seemed like some kind of mix of multiple things with seven heads, and it's body covered in scales and fur.
"What the hell is that thing," Ichigo muttered, eyes wide.
"Trihexa, the Apocalyptic Beast," God said as a figure appeared, shrouded in white, its form constantly shifting, the creature moving to attack it only to be stopped by a massive barrier that seemed to melt, wrapping around its body as it screeched and struggled, the figure in white seeming to struggle arms shaking as whatever the barrier had become dug into the creature's body with a hiss, it's fighting becoming almost rabid as it tried to escape, a hint of pity filled Ichigo. "Do not pity it," God said, as the beast's struggles became weaker, "It's very purpose is the destruction of all things….It will never stop till all things within creation are destroyed," a look of regret flashed across the beings face, "Even at full-power I was unable to destroy it, only seal it at the end of the world and hope that the seals would never waver," it said, as the creature stilled and the figure in white fell to its knees.
"Why are you showing me this?" Ichigo asked as the figure that he guessed to be God stood up shakily before being joined by another figure dressed in gold that helped him stand before they both disappeared and they were both once again in Ichigo's inner world.
"To show you why I am, what I am," it said, before snapping its fingers again and they found themselves watching a battle, God against four other beings. "I used most of my strength sealing away Trihexa, leaving the perfect opportunity for the Four Great Satans," three of the beings had managed to take out God's legs at the cost of their lives, while the final rushed forwards piercing through its chest only for it to be a pyrrhic victory as God's form wavered and the world was engulfed in light and they were back in his world.
"Why would I need to know any of this?" Ichigo asked, the higher being smiling as its hands moved to the front of its clothes pulling it down and showing the Hogyoku, "What does that have to do with-" he tried to speak on to be interrupted as God pulled it from its body.
"The Hogyoku, 'created' by both Sosuke Aizen and Kisuke Urahara," God smiled, "Able to grant anyone's desire, even those that should not be possible...much like a miracle," Ichigo's eyes widened as the world changed again and they found themselves in a void, "Upon my 'death' I merely transferred what remained to a dimension separate from my own, to heal...though that created a problem as I was disconnected from my the prayers and worshipers, slowing down my recovery significantly," Ichigo watched as what appeared to be a ball of light appeared in the void, time seemed to speed up as the void was replaced with the formation of the familiar barren wasteland of Hueco Mundo, stopping as what appeared to be a young Urahara arrived in the hollow home, the ball of light splitting with a segment sinking into the young Shinigami before he was kicked by an irritated Yoruichi.
"Wait, yo-" Ichigo tried to speak only to be cut off as time sped up again, a younger Aizen appeared, another segment of the light sinking unknowingly into him, leaving only a tiny ball left as the young Aizen looked around curiously before continuing on his way.
"So I decided to speed things up, knowing that it would require both to regain some semblance of what I used to be," he said, the world changing around them to show both men working on creating their own Hogyoku. "One wanting to help others, while the other wishing to overthrow the status quo…both putting their all into it...their beliefs in their goals," God paused with a thoughtful expression as Ichigo just stared at him in disbelief.
"You're responsible for all this?!," Ichigo said memories of all the pain and suffering caused by the Hogyoku, his rage burned as he grabbed God's shoulder before there was a brief flicker of blue and Ichigo took as step back, body shaking in what appeared to be nausea as he fell to his knees "Wh-"
God stepped forward, placing a hand on Ichigo's shoulder, and within an instant, the feeling was gone. "I understand that my actions have brought great pain upon your Ichigo Kurosaki," it snapped his fingers again and they were now in a familiar clinic, Ichigo's eyes widened as he found himself looking at his mother and father, his mother's stomach bulging slightly the small ball of light sinking into her, " Or should I say…..they brought pain to myself,"
"Wha….no…..I….human," Ichigo mumbled still staring wide-eyed, as God took a step forward, and with a wave of its hand his parent's forms became transparent, showing both their souls, his father's, his mothers, and his, a hint of black buried within it that seemed to settle as it took on the same shade of the ball of light that had been God.
"Through certain events, your mother was infected with a hollow created by Aizen...something that would most certainly lead to the death of a Quincy, and in order to save her, your father reached out to the only person he could trust," the image changed to a rain-soaked Isshin, cradling a bleeding Masaki in front of Urahara's shop with Ryuken standing behind them.
"Quincy?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.
"As you know Aizen wished to create the perfect hybrid, so he set in motion the event that would lead to your conception," God continued, ignoring Ichigo's question, "For him it was more of a curiosity, to see if a living being could withstand such an existence without self-destruction...it should be impossible," God smiled, for the first time a hint of bloodlust came from him, "However, I could not allow for such an affront to life to happen so I used the last fragment of my being to keep your soul in harmony while you were in your mother's womb, making sure to remove any traces of the hollow called white from her body,"
"Why didn't you remove the hollow completely?" Ichigo asked pushing aside the whole God is inside him thing, God, tilted its head before acknowledging the question.
"While I am weakened, I still possess hints of my omnipotence and with the help of your Quincy blood I knew that it would be needed and it was already fused with your shinigami powers," it said.
"But, Zengetsu is my za-" Ichigo tried to say only to pause as memories of his interactions with the Old Man and White came to mind, God giving a nod as Ichigo finally caught on.
"White's been telling you from the very beginning, hasn't it? God asked, memories of White flashing behind him.
"Then the Old Man is-"
"Your Quincy powers…..your link to Yhwach," God said, getting a look from Ichigo, "He is the son of the Soul King and the father of all Quincies," it brought up an image of Yhwach, "Yhwach, "The Sealed King", Over 900 years, he shall recover his heartbeat. Over 90 years, he shall recover his intellect. Over nine years, he shall recover his power. And over nine days, he shall recover the world."
"Wait, what was that about impure Quncies?! Or the whole regain the world thing?!" Ichigo shouted, God pausing before the world around them changed to a very familiar day, the day his mother died. "Why are you sho-"
"Watch," God said, as Masaki chased after Ichigo as he went after Grand Fisher's lure, her bow forming only to fizzle out, her face paling as she stumbled, her eyes on Ichigo before she used what energy remained to move in front of Ichigo pushing him back, as the Grand Fisher's teeth sunk into her back before the image faded, God looking into Ichigo's eyes that shined with unshed tears.
"He…" Ichigo said voice low as he looked at where his mother's image had been.
"Is preparing for his return in the shadows," God said, Ichigo's hands closing into fists. "And he won't stop until the Soul King is dead and the soul society is destroyed."
"What am I supposed to do! I gave up my powers!" he yelled, only to stop as God raised his hand, a light coming from it as the deity formed a blade made of pure light in his hand with the Hyogokyu.
"While you were created from and hold my essence you are still your own individual, so I will offer you a choice Ichigo Kurosaki," God said, the room changing to one with a throne in the center and a golden theme. "Forget this encounter and continue with your designated path...you and your friend might survive, maybe even stop it before it gets too bad though there will be losses...and nothing is ever set in stone," Images of those who could be lost in the conflict went through his mind, bringing the orange-hair former shinigami to his knees as scenarios filled his head.
"What is this," Ichigo asked, gasping in pain as information floored his mind.
"This opportunity will present itself only once...and will affect both your dimension and mine," God said looking down at the blade in its hand, waiting for Ichigo to pull himself back together.
"...and the other choice?" Ichigo asked, pushing himself back to his feet, memories of the time Rukia had transferred her powers to him coming to mind as he looked at the sword in God's hands.
"I never planned for events to go this way," it said, hand running down the blade of energy, "When I fused what remained of myself to your soul, I figured once I used the power gained from the Hyogokyu I would be able separate myself from you safely," a wry smile formed on God's face, "However it seems that my power prefers you over myself," it offered the blade to Ichigo who took it, it's glow increasing till the room was bathed in light, causing Ichigo to hand it back quickly.
"Can't you just call it back?" Ichigo asked, rubbing his eyes trying to clear away the spots in his vision. God merely shook its head, holding the blade at his side.
"Not without ripping your soul to shreds," God said, Ichigo tensing at the answer as the deity moved to the throne, it's taken form seeming pale.
"What's-"
"A god's power comes both from themselves and those who worship them...My own power will not return so long as I am not in my dimension," it said, leaning back in the throne, the glow in its eyes fading a bit. "The Hogyoku was supposed to supplement the power from worship, by absorbing the beliefs held about its capabilities and the belief others have in the one who owns it, however, it has chosen "you" as its master, not I," it said with a chuckle.
"Why the hell would it choose me?" Ichigo asked.
"Do you really not see how many people believe in you?" God asked, "Who prayed for you to stop Aizen? Who puts their faith in you? Not in some god, but in Ichigo Kurosaki the person," it gave a tired smile, "You have touched many lives, and inspired a lot of people...why would my power choose a tired old god instead of a young one such as yourself,"
"But I'm not a-"
"You are!" it said, looking up at the ceiling, "So I ask of you….will look after them?" it asked with a tired look in its eyes, the hand holding the sword shaking.
"How is this a choice when you're trying to guilt me-"
"You worry for those here, but you don't have to…..With your help I could do one last miracle," God looked Ichigo in the eyes, the eons it had lived through shining through, "I am God, the Alpha, and the Omega, I have watched the beginning and will see it through to the end," A gasp rose from Ichigo's lips as for a second he felt what its power was in its prime, apart of him reaching out. "To wipe away those who wish them harm, to render them to salt," it looked at Ichigo with tired eyes, a pang of sadness went through the young man as he realized that time had run out, that the choice had to be made, his mind a whirlwind at the information he'd learned.
"What happens…..if I say yes?" he asked, taking a step forward.
"We become whole and at that moment I will use what remains to create a miracle and send you on your way"
"Everyone?" He took another step.
"Will receive my blessing they will be protected till the end of their days," it raised the blade, their eyes meeting.
"Dad, Yuzu, Karin?" he asked pausing before taking another step, the blade's glow increasing.
"Will be safe, and know that you are as well," the blade's tip was inches from Ichigo's chest.
"Why Rukia?" he asked swallowing his fear, getting a look from God before it smirked.
"It seemed like tradition," God said before using the last of his strength to stab the blade forwards, and the world turned white.