Everything started...
Well, it is always hard to find a proper beginning...
Something started in a certain world of magi and magecraft when the world most altruistic assassin, decided that he was simply not strong enough to sacrifice his wife and family for a mere dream.
Something also started in completely another dimension when great genius named Aizen Sousuke decided that being simply another very powerful shinigami just won't cut it.
And when Masaki Kurosaki though that it will be wonderfully convenient to stay at night in her boyfriend house since it was raining so much... Well, it was not like anyone had any regrets here.
And in the world different from that, when sudden appearance of Grains lead to humanity's beginning of the end.
Something even started a long, long time before any of that when in a certain set of timelines Gaia - will of the planet - decided to refuse help from the first Brunestud and instead tried to fuse with a budding Alaya – will of humanity. Existence born from this unity – genuine Ultimate One of the Earth or Type: Earth would later be known as a 'Soul king'.
Yes it is definitely hard to find a proper beginning especially to a story that will span through no less than three different dimensions. Though, come to think of it, in this particular case there is one event important enough to claim this role.
It won't be ideal beginning obviously, but it should be close enough.
Once more then...
Everything started in what should be Isshin Kurosaki's best day in life, and what fastly turned out to be his worst...
There were very little moments in Isshin Kurosaki–Shiba's life when he was left truly lacking words, and yet right now when he was looking at his newborn son, his wife looking at him with tired smile from the bed... It certainly was one such moment.
"A boy" he spoke, delicately caressing child's cheek with his finger. "My son. You will be called Ichigo written as 'number one guardian' " His voice was silent, yet it had a weight in itself. Unfortunately Ichigo chose this exact moment to snort, few bubbles appeared on his mouth before he started to cry probably calling for his mom.
"Like father like son" Masaki grinned before taking Ichigo from her husband which was slightly pouting at his son lack of ability to sense the mood. "But it is a really good name. I like it and it would suit his hair too." New mother looked at Ichigo's hair which fiery orange color could already be seen. Something clearly inherited from her.
"Yeah. Come to think of it-" Former shinigami hesitated. He had no doubts about the fact that his firstborn will be a real man. So considering the other meaning of his name and its suitability to his child's hair color, could it become something that future Ichigo will come to hate?... Nah, there was no way that it could happen.
Besides in the worst case it would just become more fun anyway.
"He is truly wonderful." his thoughts stopped at the words of Masaki. Ichigo already calmed down and his wife looked at him with deep love.
Isshin moved closer and embraced her delicately. "We need to think about a little brother or sister for him, gotta' make sure that he has a reason for his name."
His wife just sends him a sunny, joyful smile. "Maybe a year or two lat- Isshin down!"
It was only decades of military training that allowed former shinigami to save his head, an instant when he dived down a slash appeared on the wall where a second earlier was his head.
"Is something wro- " Doctor examining patient on the neighbouring bed stopped in the middle of his sentence when he didn't manage to repeat Isshin's feat, his head slipped smoothly from his arms. In less than a second two other patients in the hall followed.
Isshin cursed, cold fear spilled in his guts, these were no hollows. Even without being able to see them, he knew well enough shinigami swords to recognize zanpakutou in action.
Powerless as he was, Isshin threw a water bottle from besides the bed in place where one of attackers should be. There was no damage but water from cutted through bottle revealed enemy silhouette.
Only this saved him from the next cut. Drops of water showing the sword's path.
"Fast" he thought. Isshin hoped for an enemy to not be a very high ranked but apparently it was foolish. This cut was the last one that he managed to avoid, in next moment powerful hit cracked his ribs and send him straight into the wall.
Masaki fared a little better, within a moment sending few shots from her mini-crossbow into two other attackers – a masked men with long black coats, which she could see clearly.
This was not really effective, one of the attackers dodged aside when other deflected all arrows into the ceiling, huge chunk of wall vanishing in the flash of blue light.
Ichigo started to cry.
Quincy pursed her lips. She knew more or less how powerful her arrows were, she was not sure if even Isshin with his full powers would be able to deflect them with such ease.
She didn't have time to think about it however as in this moment blue orb of fire started concentrating in masked man's hand.
Masaki paled, this was a lot of reiatsu here.
"Soukatsui"
Not having time for anything more she hide crying Ichigo in her arms before turning back to the incoming projectile.
The wave of blue fire covered her before going further and turning into a small inferno. When a few seconds later discharge stopped everything in the blast direction, outside of one curled up woman, vanished.
Masaki's back were naked, but unharmed shining blue veins covering her entire body.
She didn't want to think about all this people that must have just died.
Within a moment she noticed a hand closing from her left into the direction of the child in her embrace.
"Ichigo!"
her own hand shoot grasping assaulter. Blue veins vanished, power shifting into something deeper into her body and flush of strength allowed her to close masked man's hand in the steel grasp.
"Yhwach's thanks for the blut arterie" There was still his other hand with the sword to worry about but if she could make him lose balance now...
"Very impressive" The first words of a masked man was spoken in peaceful and sincerely amused voice. "Your usage of blut vene and blut arterie is more than just masterful and into genuinely instinctual. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time for playing. Gin, if you could... "
Horrified Masaki remembered about the two other assailants, she barely managed to shift before the world slowed down.
Young quincy could almost see the long blade shooting from other man like a constantly lengthening spear.
She didn't have time to shift into blut vene again! She didn't have a place to dodge! She-
The blade pierced through her chest a moment later with her defences down, other assailant followed with a slash through her tendons.
With a darkness overcoming her sigh, she felt her hands letting go of her son.