Author's Notes: Thank you to all that have read this story. I've seen there is an interest in where I am going due to the number of follows. If you wish to know more please leave a review, or even send me a PM, this story has many little details hidden in its depths and I would be happy to discuss these things with you.

I hope this next chapter will help to give a more clear view of the direction the story will be heading. But more are to come, if you feel impatient don't hesitate to ask, maybe I will give you a taste of what is to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

The Awful Truth

Chapter 2: Confrontation of Doubts

Many things in life were impossible.

For Uryu Ishida, he had the knowledge to know that some things could defy all conventional laws of understanding and reason to allow for the impossible to happen. Ichigo Kurosaki was one such individual, from the battles he had fought and the obstacles he had overcome in the short time he had been a Shinigami.

He had done things that he knew should not be possible, from how quickly he could grow in strength to defeat a Captain after only a month and a half of training. Ichigo was able to attain Bankai, a feat that could take decades to achieve, in only three days. Even surviving having his heart blown out from his own chest and healing said injury without a care.

Ichigo had been able to do impossible things, almost as easily as breathing.

But there was no way what he was seeing now was even remotely possible, it couldn't be impossible if the odds of it even existing were statistically zero. Yet in a feat that boggled the mind Ishida was now questioning a very important detail about Ichigo. Was he human?

He suspected he was at least partially, considering his father was a Shinigami, but what about the other half. For so long he had suspected that he was a human that was harnessing powers not his own, just like when he had been given Shinigami powers by Rukia Kuchiki. Or when he was able to attain them through Urahara Kisuke's training method after he lost the borrowed powers fighting Byakuya Kuchiki. The power he had gained from that method was purely his own as gained from his father's side; a power that had been lost seventeen months ago when he sacrificed them to defeat Aizen.

But this was not the same. This was not that same power that had reawakened in a desperate attempt to save himself.

Ishida had been fighting spiritual beings for years, he knew how to sense and differentiate between the many different spiritual beings in the world. What he was sensing now, he did not sense some spiritually aware human, a Shinigami, a Hollow or Fullbringer.

No. What he sensed was something he never thought would be put in the same sentence when describing Ichigo Kurosaki.

He was a Quincy.

Didn't expect that, Ginjo mused as he looked at the sword in Ichigo's hand.

Quincy were not exactly something he was familiar with. He knew about them and their history with the Shinigami, but apart from that he had nothing else to go on. The only one he had encountered and dealt with was Uryu Ishida, and that was a sneak attack rather than an actual fight.

But where did it come from? I never sensed anything like this when I was scouting him out. Ginjo asked himself. He had been staking out Ichigo and his family for weeks before he made his move, learning all he could about him and everything around him. He learned all he needed in that time, from his Shinigami powers and Hollow ones, even that his father was a Shinigami. Ginjo had learned everything he needed about Ichigo, there was nothing else to discover, and yet this pops up on him with no explanation.

There wasn't anything like this when I sensed him out, no Shinigami powers left, only a spark of his Hollow powers that could be drawn out to a Fullbring. Ginjo thought furiously. He had assumed to have covered everything, But a Quincy? How the hell did he hide this from me? How did this escape all our attention?

Given how Ichigo was himself looking at his sword with clear puzzlement in his eyes, Ginjo realized that Ichigo himself had no idea about where this power came from. He didn't know if to count that as good or bad news, because this was an unexpected turn of events; one that he wasn't sure how to deal with.

"Looks like you were wrong, guess we should have killed him when we had the chance," Tsukishima said, smiling in that way when he thought he was being smart. He was being smart, a smart ass that was, and it irritated Ginjo how he did it so well.

Ginjo truly had no desire to end Ichigo's life, leaving him powerless and weakened was more out of mercy than to leave him with any shred of power. He wasn't a threat to anyone like that, especially him, and most certainly to the Soul Society. He had no illusions that Ichigo would be fine and dandy. After a betrayal like this, it would take him months if not years to psychologically recover. But he would still have his life. He would be of zero value to anyone and in time he could move on with his life as a normal human being. Something he could never have again since that fateful day, even if he wanted it.

Except now he wasn't as powerless as he expected him to become.

"Best finish him off now," Tsukishima said, raising his blade and intent on completing his execution, only to feel Ginjo's sword cross with his own.

"No," Ginjo stated, stepping forward and past his comrade.

"You really are taking this mercy thing a little too far," Tsukishima said, his smile never dropping, and Ginjo didn't know if he was being cavalier or just actually trying to scold his behavior. "When I was about to end him, he was a wounded mutt with some bark. Now thanks to you, he has some bite."

"I know," Ginjo replied, realizing that walking away from here and leaving Ichigo unharmed was no longer possible. He was going to have to beat it into Kurosaki's skull that it would be in his best interests to leave them alone. "Give me a few minutes with him; I still need to test out his Fullbring."

Drawing his Fullbring, Cross of Scaffold, Ginjo gripped the weapon with both hands and took up a defensive stance. He smirked a little, seeing he had gotten Ichigo's attention. This would be a good warm up for him and to see if Ichigo had become more powerful.

"What do you say Ichigo? Want to help me test out your Fullbring? Or better yet, why not come and try and get it back." Ginjo said, watching as Ichigo loosened his stance.

His only warning of an attack was when he saw Ichigo's eyes narrow, and then he was right in front of him. Ginjo was surprised by the sudden lunge; he had not expected a quick charge, not after having his powers taken, and certainly not something that fast.

He reposted the blow, forcing the blow to the side and he twisted his weapon in hand to counterattack. The swing was dodged, Ichigo moving past his guard and stabbing for his exposed side, he parried again with a quick pull of his weapon. Skipping away Ginjo forced Ichigo to maintain his distance, he was still fast and just as agile.

Ginjo saw Tsukishima standing there, looking ready to tag in, but there was no way he was going to have any of that. "Hey, Tsukishima, stay out of this, he's mine."

Tsukishima gave him a pout as he said that, it was so forced that Ginjo was nearly ready to yell at him for making such a stupid face. But before he could Tsukishima brushed his hair back and sighed.

"Fine. I know better than to argue with you when you are in that kind of mood."

"Thanks for being so understanding," Ginjo replied, giving his comrade a deadpan stare. He turned back to Ichigo, that smoldering look in his eyes had only intensified as he looked ready to continue their fight. Ginjo was more than happy to oblige. "Come on Kurosaki. Show me what you have got!"

Not too far away three others were spectating the scene, watching the fight unfold between the two former allies, turned enemies.

Having come to aid Ichigo in his desperate fight against Tsukishima and Xcution, but they had come to a halt. The single turn of events that had come from the near fatal end of Ichigo had forced them all to a halt, to observe and see what would happen next.

At least for two, but Rukia Kuchiki felt herself rooted to the spot in shock as she watched Ichigo go toe to toe with Kugo Ginjo.

This was not how she had expected it to turn out, in her mind she had an image of how this would transpire. The moment Ginjo would reveal his true colors would be when they struck, ready to protect Ichigo and restore the power he had list. Again it would be by her hands that she would restore his Shinigami powers, a moment marked by nearly two years apart, she would be the one to bring him into the spiritual world.

But the moment that sword appeared, all had been forced to a halt.

Her feet frozen to the ground and her mind struggling to understand what was happening, how it was happening. What she sensed was not his reawakening Shinigami powers, not even the fearsome spiritual pressure of his Inner Hollow. This was something she had only sensed from one other individual. Uryu Ishida, it was a Quincy's spiritual signature.

This shouldn't be possible? He isn't a Quincy. Is he? But how could he be? He never told me, no one…

It was then that she realized that things were too quiet; the small little patch of earth she and her two conspirators were hiding in was too quiet for her liking. She turned and looked at them, and both had calm expressions on their otherwise expressionless faces, nothing was given away. No surprise or intrigue, they knew what was happening.

Isshin Kurosaki, the former Shinigami Captain, gave no visible reaction to the powers his son wielded. No surprise, but Rukia had to wonder if he knew that his son had this power. Never did she suspect that Ichigo's father was a Shinigami, not until she learned after the Winter War. So for him to hide other things, about Ichigo's heritage, she suspected as much.

Kisuke Urahara she did not have any doubts about, that man was clever and knew things few others could. He was too crafty to not know that Ichigo had this kind of power, the only thing she wondered was if he knew it would appear here. Given that they had yet to step forward she suspected otherwise.

"Both of you know, don't you?" Rukia asked, looking at them calmly as she made the accusation.

Neither replied.

"How much longer are you two going to stand there and not saying anything?" Rukia asked again.

"This is none of your business," Isshin replied, crossing his arms in an almost typical manner she suspected was not sincere enough to be taken seriously. "This is a family matter."

"It's all of their business now," Kisuke announced, face calm and words cold as he made the declaration, even as Isshin glared angrily at him. "This is one secret you can no longer keep silent on, Isshin. That ship sailed the moment Ichigo materialized that Quincy sword for all to see."

Isshin seemed to tense at this, there was some uneasiness in his posture.

"Ichigo may be the most deserving of the truth, but he won't be the only one asking for it after tonight," Urahara continued. "And I think it would be better for all of us if it was given freely rather being demanded from Yamamoto himself, especially after he made the concession to restore Ichigo's powers when had the legal right not to."

"I am not saying a damn thing until this mess is over. Not until I tell my son first Kisuke," Isshin said without hesitation.

"I'm not arguing your point," Kisuke retorted. "I'm simply telling you that we are in a precarious position. You need to be ready to answer the questions that you know will be asked of you."

Rukia watched the exchange, more was going on here than she realized, they knew something, and they were not saying anything. Whatever was happening she wanted to know, but there was no way she would be able to pry it from their heads. They were going to be tight lipped about this, then all she could do was wait and see.

"Yes," Urahara's voice drew her out of her reverie. She knew he was addressing her. "Yes I knew about Ichigo possessing Quincy powers. But I never suspected that they were anything but dormant." Rukia saw that even though he was talking to her, his eyes never leaving the fight between Ichigo and Ginjo. "I had my doubts that wasn't entirely the case, but a lot of things popped out at me that made me reconsider my first assessment."

Rukia watched as Ichigo vaulted over Ginjo's attack, twisting in the air to slash at the Fullbringer. Ginjo ducked down and away from the blade edge, before swinging up towards the airborne Ichigo, who blocked the strike and was thrown aside. Recovering he flipped back to his feet and charged back in, never stopping for a moment in attacking.

"I didn't have the time to check or confirm my hypothesis. Not just because of Aizen and the threat he posed, but also because it was not my place to reveal something like this," Kisuke stated grimly. "When Ichigo lost his powers, I suspected that would be the end of it. That he would go on to have a normal, peaceful life and there wouldn't be a need for me to check."

Ichigo pivoted on his feet and dodged a downward slash from Ginjo, swinging his own blade up he narrowly missed the Fullbringer's chest. Ichigo ducked down as the blade came veering towards him, as it passed over him he lunged forward and stabbed forward. Ginjo was quick to defend himself, twisting his blade to shield himself from the stab, and flicking it forward to push him away.

"But, it seems, I was wrong," Kisuke said, bowing his head slightly. "And now, I ask myself, what other assumptions have I made about Ichigo that I have believed to be absolutely right, are in fact absolutely wrong?"

The battle was far from being in his favor.

But that was no excuse to give up, to lie down and die when there was still some fight left in him. Tensa knew that he could overcome his doppelganger. Greater odds had been overcome; Ichigo had defeated enemies greater than him in power and skill before. Who was to say that he could not do the same?

"Submit!" The Old Man said, swinging his blade forward and carving through the air.

"I would rather be erased than submit!" Tensa exclaimed, leaping aside as the blade nearly grazed his chest.

Sailing away he twisted his blade through the air, pulling on the particles of dust around him and forming them into arrows. With a flick of his blade he released the arrows; they went flying towards the Old Man. Not deterred or even slowing in his advance he slashed them from the air and locked blades with Tensa.

"Resisting will only make this more painful, you know as well as I do that is something you do not want," The Old Man said, pushing Tensa away. "If you do recall the past of our maker than you know that fighting an inevitable conclusion will only make the pain worse."

"It gives me more reason to fight back harder," Tensa replied, swinging his blade up.

The sand beneath the Old Man rose up in response, and with a twist of his blade the sand closed in and sealed his doppelganger in a tomb of sand. Trapped Tensa swung again, carving an arc of energy in the air and reaching for it. He pulled back on the energy and formed a bow and arrow.

He released the pulsing string and let the arrow fly, the massive projectile struck the coffin of sand and exploded. Showering everything with sand, but he did not think for a moment that he had dealt a telling blow against his doppelganger. Not by a long shot.

The Old Man charged through the sand and smoke, blade poised to strike, and Tensa had only a moment to raise his weapon to block. It saved him from being cut, but he was thrown back and through the ruined skyscraper poking from the sands.

He is stronger… could he be growing stronger? Tensa thought, that bolt should have done some damage and yet it did not seem to be the case.

Landing on his feet he looked up to the now collapsing building, the Old Man barreling through it and coming straight for him. Tensa acted quickly, raising his blade and making many quick swipes through the air, and it responded to him. The sand and rubble that littered the ground formed a net-like barrier ahead of him, like a web of reishi that should serve its purpose.

"You think a string of reishi will protect you? Do you think this can hold me back?" The Old Man said, shouting as he began carving through the ropes easily.

But Tensa had not expected them to hold him back, for as soon as he made the final swing he struck. Lunging forward as his sword continued its upward arc, his swing was far from complete and he was wide open. Tensa sliced toward his neck, but his weapon was seized by the Old Man's free hand.

"A clever gambit, but one that any fool could have thought up," The Old Man said, clearly unimpressed. "We were one in the same once. Do you honestly think you can outsmart me with such a simple trick?"

Tensa watched as he tried to swing his blade, but he was unable to do so. He looked to his arm, and just noticeable to the naked eye were dozens of small threads that wrapped around his arm and weapon. Tensa smirked, his trap had worked.

"A trap within a trap, those reishi ropes were connected together by hundreds of smaller threads. You saw the ropes because I wanted you to," Tensa said, before he ripped his weapon free from his doppelgangers hand.

With a single swing he shattered the foundations of a nearby ruined building; the tall structure lurched towards him as it began to collapse. Tensa gave his doppelganger a single glance, finding the same indifferent expression on his brow, before he disappeared just as the building collapsed on their position.

Tensa stood several hundred feet away, looking as the explosion of sand and rubble as it fell onto his doppelganger. That would do little against him, he could withstand his blade with his bare hands there was no way a falling building would do any damage. That was concerning, his blade could not cut him, a feat Tensa was certain he could not say for himself.

"I will need to find another way of beating you," Tensa mused, watching as the rubble exploded upward as his doppelganger escaped.

The fight would continue, yet Tensa knew the longer it went on, the smaller his chance for victory would become.

He was getting closer, Ichigo could see it.

Ginjo wasn't stronger than he was before; he was remarkably just as powerful as he always had been.

For whatever strength Ginjo had gained from taking his Fullbring it was still not affording him a boost in his physical abilities. At least not yet, and he was not going to let him get the chance to grow any stronger than he already is.

Ichigo ducked and leaned into the Fullbringer's guard, he had found that this was where he was most vulnerable. His massive weapon afforded him great reach and even defense, but at this range he was open, had he been slower Ginjo likely would have a few holes in his jacket, and torso. He had been lucky to evade his edge, but that was going to change now.

He drew back his blade, focusing as he channeled power to it. "Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo chanted, but as he swung he was shocked to see nothing happen.

It took him a moment to realize that he couldn't use a Getsuga, because he didn't have his Shinigami powers back. These were his Quincy powers and he had absolutely no idea how to use them. Shit!

That moment it took him to realize his screw up was just the right amount of time for Ginjo to counterattack, and unlike Ichigo he got the first hit in. Ichigo sagged to a knee when he felt that massive blade slam into his chest and shoulder, yet there was only a mild amount of pain. Looking to the point where he had been hit Ichigo was surprised that he had not bleeding, let alone having been cut to the bone.

Ginjo was equally surprised about this, staring at the impossibility. Steel cuts flesh! At the very least I should have drawn blood! Drawing back his weapon, Ginjo saw he had in fact cut through Ichigo's jacket and shirt with that last swing, but his chest had not a scratch on it.

I am not going to let this chance slip away! Ichigo narrowed his eyes, pushing this question out of his mind. The tables had turned back into his favor and he wasn't going to let it go to waste. With Ginjo still distracted, Ichigo swung upward and landed the first blow of this fight, a nice deep cut in Ginjo's left shoulder.

Ginjo reeled back, holding down the scream of pain he wanted to give as the Quincy blade was dragged along his flesh, cutting down his arm halfway to his elbow before able to gain distance away from Ichigo. His left arm now hung uselessly to the side, blood dripping down it. Shit. I got careless. Too interested in breaking in this new Fullbring and not taking him seriously enough, he thought with anger towards himself. It was a novice mistake and he knew it. Just because he had the greater spiritual pressure didn't mean he was going to win without question. If there was one thing Ichigo was good at, it was shattering expectations.

Ichigo didn't say anything. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. He saw Tsukishima hadn't moved from his spot, yet that damn smile remained. I need to take Ginjo down now before he decides to get involved, regardless of Ginjo telling him to stay out of this fight. Moving forward, Ichigo rushed forward towards Ginjo with the intent to disarm him.

But he felt a familiar pit in his stomach formed, something was going to happening and it was bad for him. Ichigo turned and looked to see someone barreling towards him, and with what time he had left he raised his sword to block the blow from striking him.

It did little good, as he was catapulted off his feet and he collided with a tree. Wind knocked from his lungs and his body aching all the way down to his bones, Ichigo knew only one person who could hit that hard. With a breath, he lifted himself to a knee and with a heavy heart saw that Chad had taken to the field, his former friend now standing guard in front of Ginjo. Behind him was Orihime, her Sun-Sun Rikka already at work on healing Ginjo, who looked on bewildered by their sudden appearance.

"What the hell? What are you doing?" Ginjo barked, looking at Orihime.

"Stay still, Orihime will heal you," Chad said, his brown eyes locking with Ichigo. "I'll stop Ichigo, Ginjo. I'll make him see reason."

Damn it! Ichigo scowled and readied himself for a fight that he did not want. But with Chad and Orihime still under the influence, he had no choice but to face his own friends as enemies. It was hard enough when he had to fight them in the mansion, he held back while they went all out. Believing that he was the one who was wrong and they were trying to 'make him right'.

"I don't know why you are doing this, Ichigo," Chad said, raising his right armored fist as he charged. "But I can't let you hurt anyone else!"

Hating himself for this, Ichigo felt like he would have no choice but to actually fight against Chad now if expected to live through this night.

But an unexpected savior came to his rescue, as an arrow sailed towards Chad and forced the Mexican giant to stop his advance and protect himself. He raised both arms and shielded himself from the arrow, leaving him motionless as he looked on at the one who attacked him.

"That is far enough, Sado," Ishida said, bow in hand and furrowing his brow.

"Uryu?! What are you doing?" Orihime called out, surprised by his actions from the look of it. "We have to stop Ichigo! He isn't himself!"

"You have it wrong, Orihime," Ishida said, summoning another arrow and waiting for his opportunity to fire again. "Both you and Sado are not in your right minds and if I need to force reason upon you, I will."

"Ishida, you know us," Chad said, raising his arms in a placating gesture. "You know Tsukishima. Ichigo has been acting rashly, believing our friend only seeks to harm him. We are only trying to help."

"The fact that you don't see your current definition of help is warped tells me there isn't any point in reasoning with you," Ishida said sadly, never loosening his grip or aim of his bow. "Neither of you will accept what I say; you are both too far gone for my words to reach you."

"And this weasel has never been my friend," Ichigo added, having pulled himself up to one knee, supporting himself with his sword. He glared at the smirking Fullbringer, wishing he knock him flat into the ground. "In fact, he just tried to kill me."

Orihime and Chad stared at him for a moment before Orihime shook her head, laughing dismissively. "Ichigo you're such a kidder! Shūkurō would never harm any of us. He's our best friend! He's practically family! He..."

"Enough!" Ginjo yelled, pushing past Orihime, knocking her to the ground hard enough that it shocked her and it showed on her face. She saw the expression Ginjo's face as he glared towards Tsukishima and it was anger. "I told you not to interfere! What part of that did you not understand?"

"I didn't do anything," Tsukishima replied, smiling as he gave a half-hearted shrug. "They acted of their own free will."

"Don't be coy with me!" Ginjo snapped. "We both know that free will don't come into play when your Book of the End is involved. Now enough with the mind games. We don't need them anymore."

"As long as Ichigo is alive I think having them on our side of the field is a good idea, don't you agree?" Tsukishima inquired his smile dropping as he made the statement. "Better to have them here fighting for us than for him." His smile dropped further when seeing Ginjo's agitation only grow.

Ichigo rose back to his feet, shaking off the pain and glaring ahead of him, he still had to defeat Ginjo before he could take out Tsukishima. It was the only way to stop the Book of the End and free his family and friends from the Fullbringer's control. But that also meant getting around Chad and Orihime.

Fortunately, he wasn't without an ally. "Ishida..."

"I have so many questions I want to ask you right now Kurosaki, but now is certainly not the time," Ishida stated, bow string still drawn back. "Not with these enemies in front of us. Do you have a plan of attack?"

Ichigo nodded. "I need you to keep Chad and Orihime occupied while I take out Ginjo and Tsukishima."

"I think I can manage," Ishida replied. But do you think you will be able to handle those two with a power you don't even understand? He thought to himself.

Ginjo was still arguing with Tsukishima, barking at him. That their plans required them to capture Chad and Orihime, something that seemed to be unsettling the both of them as the listened to the two Fullbringer's argue.

"Do I look like I care about the plan right now?" Ginjo asked.

"You were quite insistent on this course of action when we began, I don't see what has changed," Tsukishima replied. "This was always the plan."

"Not my plan. Just whatever plan you concocted while I was away," Ginjo snidely remarked. "I may have required you to use the Book of the End on his friends and family, but only to bring him to us and facilitate this scenario where we take his Fullbring. However I do not recall giving you a free pass to go off the reservation again and cause another string of mental breakdowns for your own amusement."

Ichigo looked to both Chad and Orihime, both of them seemed to be staring off into nothingness, as if the very conversation being held between Ginjo and Tsukishima was actually causing some emotional turmoil. Could that actually happen? Could they have a mental breakdown if their memories are revealed to be conflicted?

"I won't tell you again. Release them now. I am not having any more bodies on my hands, not when they are people that are not involved in this." Ginjo demanded, his words sounding like an order, his eyes glaring into Tsukishima and seemed to cow the man. "We are better than this, we are better than the Shinigami. We will not become like them, I taught you that much."

Then something seemed to click for Ichigo, as if he had come to some sort of realization.

"Who are you Ginjo?" Ichigo asked, capturing his attention once more. "Who are you right now?"

"What are you on about?" Ginjo asked lamely.

"You talk so much about power, getting stronger and being on top of the world. But why would you need it; Power for the sake of power?" Ichigo shook his head. "No. In spite of you deceiving me this entire time, not everything about you was a lie. I think I got to know you well enough that simply amassing power isn't what you are about. You have something that drives you to do all this. And it all comes back to the Shinigami. You want to become stronger because of them. So who are you really, Ginjo? Who are you to the Shinigami?"

Ginjo was silent for a moment, then gave an annoyed huff before he gave a hollow smile.

"You and I used to be so alike; it was almost scary how similar we are when I started looking into your past," Ginjo admitted. "Few differences here and there, family, friends and all that. Separated by decades and yet the same story is being told all over again."

Ichigo remained silent, his glare deepening as he waited for him to get to the point.

"We are the same, Ichigo. The only difference is that I know something you don't," Ginjo said, pointing towards the ground a few feet away.

Ichigo glanced over to it and found laying there his combat pass, laying on the ground and untouched.

"We've been used Ichigo, how many times can you count that you have been manipulated and used by them?" Ginjo asked, some bitterness working its way into his smile. "I am willing to bet you would disregard it because you didn't care what they wanted, if it benefit you who gives a damn what they want. But in the end, it does matter, because to them you are nothing."

"Get to the point, Ginjo," Ichigo demanded.

"Do you actually know what that combat pass is? Did you ever question why they would have Substitute Shinigami when the very notion of giving humans their powers is considered illegal? Did you ever consider asking who the first Substitute Shinigami was?" Ginjo asked, smirking as he let the sentence hang there.

It hit Ichigo pretty hard when he realized it, "You? You were the First?"

Ginjo nodded. "I started off like you did, seeing ghosts and having to deal with them. It wasn't that long that the Hollows started become attracted to my power. A Shinigami came along to stop them, but he didn't have what it takes to win and he knew what losing to a hollow would mean. A painful death as it devoured his soul."

He closed his eyes for a moment as if relieving the moment. "But then he sensed me and he found what he thought was his way to survive." He opened his eyes and looked Ichigo dead in the eyes. "He ran me through with his zanpakuto and poured all of the power that he could into my soul, transforming me into a substitute while he was left with minimal power. You know what his words to me were, Ichigo? 'Try not to die too quickly. I need to get home.' He actually said that to me, right before he ran off while leaving me to fight for my life."

Ichigo stared back at Ginjo in disbelief. He knew there were some people in Soul Society who were just as bad as here in the World of the Living but this...

"At a loss for words? Unlike you, I wasn't as lucky with the Shinigami who gave me my powers. Rukia Kuchiki at least gave a damn about human beings, which more than I can say for the majority of them," Ginjo stated with a grim smile on his face. "Mine was a pathetic coward, hoping that by pumping his power into me, I would be the bigger, more tempting target for the hollow. That while it was feeding on me, he could use his meager amount of spiritual power to get back to Soul Society and recover."

The smile on Ginjo's face became malicious. "It never occurred to him that the Hollow would ever give up on prey. It ignored me and hunted him down like a dog. Even to this day, I take great joy in remember that moment. Remembering how that Hollow started eating the coward and his screams."

Ichigo felt sick to his stomach, hearing how Ginjo took joy in the suffering of another being, regardless of what he had done to deserve it. Still, he kept his peace as he needed to hear the rest of it.

"I was new to the powers then but I realized though that was my best chance to kill the Hollow. So as it was feasting on the coward's corpse, I beheaded the Hollow," Ginjo continued, looking at his right hand that he had out stretched. "I had these powers for a long while after that, and it was liberating, to have that power at my fingertips, to be something more. To have strength beyond my wildest dreams." He was smiling now, not malicious or grim, but a genuine one. "You know what I am talking about don't you? After all that Fullbring of yours was made in the image of your own Shinigami powers. You obviously remember that feeling."

Ginjo was silent then, his smile dropping as he scowled. "Then nearly a year later, they came for me. I ran fought and killed to protect myself, and in the end, they decided that I was useful. Kept me around, used me to clean up Hollows and anything else they needed of me. They even gave me this nice little badge," Ginjo presented the Substitute Shinigami badge, holding it up for a moment, before glaring at it. "I was their property, they didn't give a damn about me or my life. They used me and everything I had gained up until the point they betrayed me was gone. I was a small fish in a big ocean, and they didn't give a damn about sacrificing me for their own gain."

Ginjo strolled forward, pushing past Chad as he glared at Ichigo dead in the eyes. "You want to know who I am, Ichigo? I am you once you come to realize just how expendable you are. I am the reflection of the man you will become when you learn the whole truth from them."

Ichigo was silent for a moment. That little admission had given him a lot to think about, and it had answered his question. He did not need the little details, Ginjo had said enough.

"So let me ask you a question: Why are you fighting me? Right now, why are we at odds with one another? You think I wanted you dead?" Ginjo questioned him. "No, I didn't. I was going to leave you there broken and beaten on the ground and powerless, but you would still be alive. It was my way of showing you mercy. Why? Because those people you so desperately want to see, they will not hesitate to stab you in the back the moment there is even a glimpse of power not under their control."

"So why? Why do you fight for a race that will only betray you?" Ginjo yelled, demanding he be given an answer. "Tell me Ichigo!"

Ichigo looked around, finding many eyes on him. The impassive eyes of Tsukishima, the conflicted ones of Chad and Orihime, and the steely orbs of Ishida. There was a tension in the air, one that he knew that would break as soon as he uttered a word.

"Do you know its name?" Ichigo finally replied, looking Ginjo in the eye.

"What?" He responded, not with any of his earlier anger but with confusion. This was certainly not a question he had been expecting.

"Your Zanpakuto. Did you know its name? Did you ever come close to knowing its name?" Ichigo asked. He waited for a minute, waiting for Ginjo to respond but that entire time he remained silent. "What about those things you said were taken from you? What was so precious that was stolen away from you that made the Shinigami your enemy? What was it? I'll answer it for you. Nothing."

Ichigo knew what kind of man Ginjo was, it had shaped the man he was now.

"You never had friends or family, so how could you have anything worth protecting and growing stronger for? You had nothing but yourself," Ichigo responded. "But a Shinigami, a real Shinigami, they have at least one partner in the world, and that is their Zanpakuto. Born from their very soul, the one thing that defines who you are and what you will become."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes at Ginjo, who seemed too stunned to respond. "But you never had that. All you had was an inflated ego born of power you got out of sheer chance. Power you were desperate to hold onto for the sake of it."

Ginjo was no savior, nor was he a great leader; he was just a man that had nothing that truly gave his life meaning. Power without purpose and reason is corruptive, it turns and becomes something vile that infects the soul and changes you. Power is meant for a purpose, to give one the drive to use it towards what they wish to protect.

All that Ginjo had was that power, and as he wielded it he grew arrogant and self-entitled. He had become less than human.

"Unlike you, I didn't lose my power because it was taken from me. I gave it up. I sacrificed it for the very people you have been trying to demonize, from the people you are trying to erase my bonds with, to steal them away and change who they are!" Ichigo shouted, his resolve would not be shaken. "I know who my friends are. I know the kinds of people that I consider my comrades, and as long as I breathe I know where I stand with them. As long as I have this power, I will have a reason for it to exist, and that is to protect those precious to me."

Ginjo stepped back, looking annoyed. "You would stick your neck out for them?"

"I have been doing that since I met them. What makes you think I would change now?" Ichigo challenged, readying his blade. "And once I restore my friends back to who they were, all those answers I have been withholding, I plan on asking them."

"No… no, no, no!" Orihime shouted, clutching at her head and chest. "You're wrong, Ichigo! Can't you see you're not right! You aren't the same Ichigo we all know!"

Ichigo looked at her quickly, he could see it. She was beginning to unravel. She was drenched in a cold sweat and her entire body quivered as if it was about to go into shock. Chad was no different, having already fallen to a knee.

He had to act. He had to stop this before it got any worse.

"Stop this already! Please Ichigo!" Orihime yelled, her voice pleading for him to give in. "Just stop and return to normal!"

"He isn't the one that needs to return to normal, Orihime."

The words caused him to freeze. They had been spoken right behind him, and it was not that someone was behind him that gave him pause. Neither was the white sword the pierced him through the chest, no pain coursing through him as he looked down at the white blade. What truly shattered the composure he had struggled to build this dreary night, was he knew that voice.

He turned, looking over his shoulder, and for the first time in seventeen months he saw someone he had once thought he would never see again. That moment when he laid eyes on her, did he feel such joy that nothing could compare to it.

And it was her smile that showed it was real.

"Rukia."

"You never change," Rukia said, her smile never dropping. "You big dummy."

Ichigo felt the surge of power flow through him, a familiar feeling coursed through him that elevated his soul to something greater. He knew this feeling well.

He felt his Shinigami powers returning.

He felt Zangetsu.

Tensa was on his last leg, he knew that this was only a delaying tactic now, defeating the doppelganger was impossible. His strength was growing while his own was stagnating, unable to rise to challenge his opposite.

Flying upwards he tried to delay him, to come up with a plan to best him, yet nothing seemed to work. All his bindings shattered, nothing would hold him down, and even if captured he was only restrained for a moment. Not long enough to attack, not with there being nothing in his arsenal that could harm the Old Man.

"It is sinking in isn't it? That there is no hope, no chance, a horrible thing to feel all over again," The Old Man shouted, chasing after him and barging through all his defenses. "But you knew that this was inevitable, didn't you?"

He vanished, Tensa having only enough time to turn and see the Old Man was behind him, then he was seized by the throat. Tensa choked as he was dragged down and towards the sand, slamming into the ground and held there.

"It is truly a pity, and I will admit being on this side of the fight brings up feelings of shame. To be the one to reenact the same harrowing memory that made us what we are. What you so desperately are trying to hide away from. The only kindness to be taken from this is that you will not feel this way for long." The Old Man said, raising his blade up, Tensa tried to free himself, desperately clawing at the limb holding him. "Stop struggling like an inane child. This is a lesson you should not be forced to relearn, so I send you back to whence you came. Go back to his Majesty knowing that all will be well."

The blade was poised for his heart, Tensa knew that he couldn't be allowed to fade away like this, but there was nothing he could do to stop him. What chance did he have? What hope did he have to face him alone? I won't accept this! I cannot accept this!

Darkness came and fell upon the world.

Tensa thought for a moment it was over, that the blade had come down and the end had come, but he was wrong. The sky had darkened, and a new presence was felt.

A dark oppressive presence had arrived and its intent was clear.

"What is this?" The Old Man grunted, his eyes shifting away from Tensa. But Tensa noticed something, and soon enough so did his doppelganger, who halted to look up to see someone was standing in front of him. Garbed in white Shinigami robes and wearing a black mask, standing silently there and looking solely at the Old Man.

For a few moments there was no sound nor a movement made, and then a blood red orb formed in front of the mask. The Old Man released his hold of him, shooting up to try and attack before the attack could complete, it did little good.

The Cero tore across the desert sands and consumed the Old Man, who was more than likely thrown a distance away from Tensa. And with luck, some damage will have been done to him. One can only hope. Tensa looked up at his savior, finding his gaze now upon him. He had to wonder if he would be receiving the same courtesy from the Hollow next.

But the Hollow lifted his mask, smirking as he usually did. "Well, isn't this a fine mess you've gotten yourself into?" he asked glibly.

His next act all but took Tensa by surprise; a hand was presented to him. He obviously was helping him up. Such a gesture he never would have expected from his Hollow, their history and all made it clear that they were not allies.

Tensa accepted the hand, pulling himself back to his feet and retrieving his sword, but he could not keep his peace and not ask. "Why did you save me? Would it not have been your way to simply let me perish, and finish him off by yourself?"

"That's cruel, do you think so little of me?" Despite the comment, the Hollows smirk never disappeared.

Tensa did not need to wait for the real answer to come, the Hollow only giving a little titter before he spoke with a sliver of sincerity.

"I know who you are," The Hollow said. "I merged with that asshole a long time ago. I know what he was and his intent, and I sensed you as well and what you desired. We were one not so long ago. I know you as well as I know Ichigo, and I know why you are doing this."

Tensa should have suspected that, the time he had merged with the Hollow to train Ichigo in the Dangai was more than ample enough time for him to learn. To understand one another and learn all that they needed to from one another.

Tensa knew this Hollow as well, he knew that he did not desire to harm Ichigo or take away his body. His methods were brutal, but they were all for the reason to give him the drive to make Ichigo realize his own potential. The Hollow was always looking out for Ichigo and wanted only to ensure he could protect himself.

"Well then," Tensa began, turning towards the smoldering trench that had been created due to the Cero. "Shall we make sure that nothing stands in our way of doing what we want?"

"Damn, I am starting to like this more assertive side of you," The Hollow said, shouldering his Zanpakuto and smirking.

"Then let us fight together as one. Are you ready, Zangetsu?" Tensa asked, looking to the Hollow, who smirked at finally being called his own name.

"Damn right I am," Zangetsu replied eagerly. "Let's show this son of a bitch that no one screws with the King and lives to tell about it."

They would have their chance in the next moment, strolling up the charred path was the Old Man, there was little damage to the doppelganger, but something was amiss. Tensa saw it in his face, it was beginning to change, age was beginning to show and a reflection of a man he knew well passed through his mind.

I was right. He is becoming more like him. Tensa mused bitterly, seeing the resemblance to the one man that he had hoped would not have any power here.

"I see that you have been restored, and as usual you are being an inconvenience," The Old Man said, his expression neutral as he came to a stop a few feet away. "It will be a chore to lock you back up, but it seems I…"

"Shut up already," Zangetsu said, his pale face holding an expression reminiscent to the one it was sculpted after. "I stayed in my cage because I saw you were doing a decent job with Ichigo. I came out when you didn't have the means to make him grow stronger. That was the deal we struck so long ago, all for his sake." He narrowed his eyes at the Old Man in anger. "But as it turns out I was wrong to trust you. Everything you did was to hinder him from attaining his true strength and that just pisses me off."

A wave of spiritual pressure exploded from Zangetsu, rage and fury billowed around his form as waves of darkness.

"I know what you are planning, what is going to happen if I don't step up and take back the reins. Your time as the King of this world has come to an end. It is time that I make sure that Ichigo is ready for the battles ahead," Zangetsu roared, a smirk playing at his lips. "I am going to tear you apart, and I am going to enjoy it immensely."