Chapter 13

He was falling. Ichigo was sure of it, but he could not get out of his trance. He only remembered entering the void that Byakuya made. Is this what Sora had to go through? wondered Ichigo. The darkness was overbearing, crushing into him its steep coldness.

He knew that he hit the ground after a while, but strangely enough, he felt nothing.

"So you came, young warrior."

The voice came from nowhere and everywhere. Ichigo felt a strange tingling in his body. He could not comprehend the strange voice.

"It is up to you to decide your life. Choice is rarely given to the individual, but you have had this destiny for a long time."

"What are you talking about?!" yelled Ichigo. "What destiny?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot tell you this. The instant you find out what you have to do, you will have already chosen what to do. Your heart is filled with good...the light and the dark has infused into your soul. The power that you possess shall pave the way to peace, yet it will bring you closer to danger and death. Choose..."

Ichigo looked at the ground, surprised to see himself. The picture was like a mural, only as a platform. Ichigo looked up, only to see darkness surround the area.

"Step forward..."

A sword appeared in front of him. "You will not get any deductions. However, prove your worth to me, human."

Ichigo realized that this is the second Zangestu, the altered ego of Juhas Bach, in sword form. As he grabbed it, he felt the power of a keyblade wielder in him. Both swords changed in an instant.

Heartless appeared, jumping at him. Ichigo timed his movements, using shunpo to move back and forth. He hit one with his black sword, piercing it in the body. Ichigo combined the two swords, moving like a cartwheel towards the enemies left. Each one was cut open.

"Well done. You have the merit to fight. You need to show me something else before you move on."

The scenery changed. Ichigo found himself staring at a tropical beach. It looked oddly familiar...

There was no mistake in Ichigo's mind. This was the Destiny Islands. This is the exact spot where he was washed ashore to. Ichigo decided not to question what happened. He started to walk around. He went near a treehouse, only to encounter a figure.

Ichigo recognized his father. Of course, it wasn't really him, but the figure was a exact replicate of him. "What do you hold dear within your heart?"

Names flashed in front of Ichigo's mind: Orihime, Ishida, Chad, Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, Rukia, Renji, his father Isshin, and his sisters Yuzu and Karin.

"I hold my friends and family in my heart."

The figure cracked a smile. "It wouldn't be you if you had answered the question differently like that, huh."

He pointed towards the treehouse and vanished. Ishigo went up the wooden staircase, only to see another familiar figure blocking his path: Sosuke Aizen. Ichigo was about to take out his weapons, but he felt that the man was not going to fight him.

"What is the way of life?"

Ichigo was surprised that this wasn't a game show. He decided to answer honestly. "I want to protect my friends and preserve peace from being obstructed. I also want to protect as many people as I can."

"What if your friends are the cause of distress?"

"I will know what to do because of my heart."

The man smirked, vanishing. Ichigo kept going up, wondering about the nature of these questions. What is his destiny?

He reached the terrance of the tree house. He stood still, feeling confused by what he saw.

A girl turned around. Orihime looked at him with a calm expression. "How does one become strong?"

"Through..." Ichigo paused. He remembered something that was crucial...

When Ichigo was getting over his mother's death, he remembered how he asked these questions. He turned dark, fighting anyone who came near him, until Tatsuki and Orihime befriended him. His sadness began to go away, but there is still regret and self-hate within his heart. Ichigo sighed, realizing what he had to say.

"Protecting and treasuring friendship is how one becomes strong."

She smiled and vanished. Ichigo noticed another man in front of him with silver hair.

"I want to get off this island now..."

Ichigo's surroundings have changed back to the platform. "Well done. You have the spirit and heart to carry out your goals. Keep those answers as power to direct you to your goals..."

Ichigo flew upwards. He discovered other platforms similar to his, only featuring his friends. There was one with a mysterious masked boy, another with the last man he saw. He looked behind him.

A demon the size of a giant stood in front of him. It was covered in darkness, yet it was noticeable. A axe was in its right hand, while there was a black sword on its other hand.

"Beware of your true enemy, for one that rises from the regain of hearts is not alone."

It slashed at Ichigo, but he dodged it by rushing near the being. He hit the monster at its chest several times, and backed out as it used the other weapon. Ichigo slashed open its arm, but it self-regenerated at ease. The monster backed off, aiming at the air near it to use shockwaves. Again, Ichigo rushed the monster with multiple dashes. This time, it disappeared, leaving a orb of energy.

"Take this as good will. This power will serve as a safeguard, a present from another stranger that has been like you. Take it, and save destiny from being corrupted."

Ichigo was puzzled from the remark, but went for the orb. At once, he felt energy flowing inside him, tapping into potential power. A portal opened up, showing him Byakuya and King Mickey finding themselves trapped between nobodies of some of the captains and neithermens. Ichigo moved out of the portal.

Meanwhile, King Mickey nerviously chuckled. "Umm, not a good idea, right?"

"Yes," said the nobody of Byakuya. "It seems that you men were in the middle of or little meeting. We have gained the powers of our neithermen friends, and now we have enough power to take over the universes!"

"Not on my dead body," replied Byakuya as he drew his blade. Everyone else, including the nobodies of Sajin and Unohana, drew their weapons as well when a fire wall began to surround the area.

"These intruders shall not live," replied the nobody of Captain-Commander Yamato. "I shall burn away these worthless men and destroy that annoying shinigami Kisuke."

Byakuya chuckled. "You still have resistance against your rule. Too bad-"

"Sad for you!" interjected Sajin. In the end, darkness is what men truly desire. Your wishes shall be granted!"

The nobodies and neithermen ran towards the duo.

"Here..."

The nobodies backed out, seeing a new warrior in front of them. "Kurosaki Ichigo?!" gasped the fake Unohana.

Ichigo changed. His black uniform was sleek as a ninja, yet stable as a samurai. His muscles were bulging as he stretched quickly. His expression was one of confidence and strength, which caused the neithermen to back off fast.

More nobodies showed up, all looking at him. "Do you three wish to die?!" yelled fake Sajin.

"We'll ask later," ask King Mickey. "We have to fight our way out of here!"

"Time to get rid of these guys," said the determined Ichigo.

All three ran forward to the nobodies.