Author's Notes: I am grateful for the support that I am getting for this story as well as your responses. I encourage you to leave reviews as I like to see what my readers are thinking about the direction the story is going.
I have some good news and bad news to report. The good news is that the final chapter of the first arc of this story will posted up before the end of the year. The bad news, I don't have nearly enough chapters written up to post at the rate that I have been going. So it won't be until sometime in 2019 that I will be able to regularly update but at least you will learn the meaning behind the story's title before year's end.
Somehow I feel the ending of this chapter is going to spike controversy but I hope it will be a good thing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
The Awful Truth
Chapter 4: All Roads Lead Back to the Past
Tensa Zangetsu parried, followed with his counter, and was blocked. They were on even footing now, good.
Ever since Ichigo had released his Bankai, allowing for the deepest reserves of his power to flow through them, and with their merger, they were finally as match for the doppelganger. Even as the slowly aging replica of Zangetsu continued to grow in power, feeding from a source outside of Ichigo's soul, they were more than able to match him.
"You are starting to struggle, good," Tensa Zangetsu said, breaking the deadlock and swinging hard.
His strike was able to force the Old Man back a step, a momentary slip up of his footing and something Tensa Zangetsu pounced on. He slashed and attacked with all he had, moving in close and never letting a moment be wasted.
The Old Man was kept off balance, unable to balance his footing or correct his form, and within half a dozen slashes Tensa Zangetsu landed his first injury. A shallow cut to the shoulder, minor and only worse than a paper cut, but it proved that of them both he had the upper hand now. Some glee was felt in his heart, likely a sensation brought about by the hollow portion of their fusion, but the more pragmatic side of himself did not waste time with such a small victory. He wanted to make this man bleed.
"I think that it is far from what you deserve however, but perhaps this is the beginning of a very poetic punishment," Tensa Zangetsu said, slashing again and locked blades again with the Old Man.
"Heh," the Old Man chuckled, clearly amused and most certain not faking it. "A nick along the shoulder? You truly are pathetic if you feel such a minor inconvenience is a sign that you are winning."
"The next few hundred will change your mind, does the saying: Death by a thousand cuts mean anything to you?" Tensa Zangetsu asked.
They disengaged from one another, the Old Man taking to the high ground as he swung his sword and formed a bow in the air. Tensa Zangetsu responded with a much faster attack, a nameless Getsuga flew free from his blade and collided with the arrow. The explosion obscured their visions of one another, and Tensa Zangetsu used it to his advantage.
He threw his Zanpakuto through the cloud, having sensed exactly where the Old Man was. He held onto the white chain still connected to the pommel of the handle, the links growing even as the distance between wielder and weapon grew.
He moved around the cloud, running along and parallel to his own blade from the ground, and as he passed by it he saw the Old Man. Still in the air and having leaned to the side to avoid the blade, Tensa Zangetsu leaped towards his sword and grasped it. Looking back he pulled tightly on his blade and the chain in his hand, the length of links tugging on the Old Man and momentarily trapping him.
Tensa Zangetsu smirked, tugging on the chain hard he twirled the Old Man in the air and slammed him into the side of a ruined skyscraper. The collision was a hard hit, but Tensa quickly used the chain to catapult himself towards the stunned Old Man and with a dropkick. Both of them ploughed through the building, tearing through its insides before the Old Man was left dazed in the air.
Tensa Zangetsu continued with the swing of the chain and sent the Old Man crashing into the ground, landing hard in the rubble of some fallen buildings.
"How's that for a minor inconvenience?" Tensa Zangetsu barked.
Although he had to quickly react when something came flying from the cloud, a massive arrow. He batted it aside easily enough, but like a reenactment where the roles had been switched, the Old Man appeared and got the drop on him. The chain he had used to throw the Old Man around like a rag doll was now around his own neck, several loops around his throat and dragging him backwards.
Tensa Zangetsu choked as his back slammed into the edge of a building, right along a precipice where the Old Man was now dangling lamely as pressing his feet on the underside of the stone to keep Tensa Zangetsu trapped. He felt the chains dig into his throat, pulled painful against his trachea that he couldn't even breathe.
"That was a little better, but like always you got ahead of yourself. If this was the gamble you intended to win, then I am disappointed," the Old Man sneered.
Tensa Zangetsu glanced to the side, seeing the blade just out of his peripheral and likely ready to be swung around to take his head off. Blut Vene or Heirro, there was no way he was going to be surviving what was coming next, that was for damn sure. He needed to escape.
"Farewell you foolish children," the Old Man said with that dark smile on his face. "Make you find peace—"
The chains snapped, for a moment Tensa Zangetsu was so surprised that he didn't actually react to the fact he could breathe again. It was mostly a surprise because he wasn't the one who had freed himself, and as he turned around to look at the surprised Old Man that was tumbling downwards through the air, the remains of the chains once around his throat now falling beside him.
The Old Man had turned to see something, and Tensa Zangetsu looked to just see a dark red arrow closing in on the doppelganger. Who raised his sword and blocked it, but as the arrow exploded the energy quickly expanded outwards and touched the many broken links of the chain.
Soon enough those formally broken chains now reformed and tightened around the airborne Old Man, who could do nothing for the moment but look on in surprise he had been detained.
Tensa Zangetsu smirked. Finally, my gambit is coming to fruition. He leaped down and towards the chained Quincy, blade sinking into the man's chest and eliciting a grunt of pain from him. He was a tough one, even a wound like that would not be the end of him so easily.
The Old Man broke from his restraints, rising up and grasping the blade still lodged in his breast and holding it there as he made an attempt to skewer the one who wounded him. But the strike had to be diverted, to slash apart another arrow, cutting the bolt perfectly in twain.
Then those two same parts quickly formed an interlocking bracer around the doppelganger's wrist and then formed a chain to the nearby wall. Trapping Quincy there and unable to swing his sword again, giving Tensa Zangetsu the perfect chance to deliver another strike.
Ripping the blade from his chest he swung again, digging deep into the Quincy's chest and sending him flying back into the wall. He was certainly feeling the damage now, he was wheezing ever so slightly as he maintained an air of calm. His gaze narrowing as he tried to figure out a reason for this sudden change in the battle.
"You seem to be struggling, unable to comprehend what is happening. Shall I explain it to you?" Tensa Zangetsu spoke aloud. "I know what it is you feared I would do. You believed that I would harness the same conduit of energy you used to empower yourself. You actually feared I would harness the same power that you feed on now."
"But you didn't," the Old Man growled, "I can tell you never made such a move."
"Because of the risk, opening up that power would leave me vulnerable to being taken by Yhwach. If that were to happen I would more than likely stop attempting to save Ichigo," Tensa Zangetsu replied. "But what you did not expect was for me to do something else."
"What are you talking about?" the Old Man demanded, his gaze smoldering.
"Stealing power would never work, not with how dangerous it was, but I could still draw on it and bring something through. You see, I discovered something you did not, a way to bring forth more than just power through the connection. But also fragments," Tensa Zangetsu replied, looking over his shoulder towards the person who had finally materialized inside Ichigo's Inner World. "I just needed time, to keep your attention while she manifested."
"She?" the Old Man asked.
Tensa looked to the woman as she approached, red cloak draped over her shoulders and a large black bow in her hand. Beneath the red cloak was armor, reminiscent to the bone-like protection Ichigo once wielded as part of his Fullbring. That had been the gestalt of forming this being, the Fullbring had been born and created from the Hollow energies of Zangetsu, and with that he had been able to create an entirely separate being from either of them.
"Tell me Yhwach," the woman spoke, narrowing her eyes glaring at the Old Man from beneath her hood. "What could you possibly know about true peace, when all you have ever done is deny it to the world?"
For the first time, Tensa Zangetsu saw true surprise upon his corrupted self's face. "You? How can you be here?" the Old Man finally asked, his voice betraying the shock behind it. "It should not be possible."
"And yet here I am," the woman replied, her intense gaze never lessening. "Tensa opened the door and I ran right through it! I know what you plan to do to Ichigo and I will not allow it!"
The woman raised her bow, and drew back the bow string, pulsating with black red spiritual energy. "I will not allow you to harm him Yhwach! I will protect Ichigo! You will never have him! This I vow!"
She let the arrow fly, this time aimed directly for the doppelgangers heart.
The Shoten was abuzz with activity, as many were inside its cramped and dusty confines. Most of the occupants were hovering around from room to room, taking care of the few that were being tended to in the back room.
But the few that were sleeping were outnumbered by the many that were still awake, who restlessly hovered in place with little to do. Odd considering the hour, well past midnight and in the early hours of the morning, it was not a time to be so energized. But the topic of discussion was beginning to set everyone on edge, tempers were being tested and secrets were being forced to light.
Secrets that only one person deserved to know about.
"Back off Kuchiki, this isn't your problem, so stop butting into business that isn't yours," Isshin said, giving the Noble an annoyed glare.
Isshin had worked with the guy over twenty years ago, but it had been a rare and sporadic set of meetings he had with the Nobleman. Captains rarely met outside of Captain meetings, barring a select few having friendships, but Isshin did not really hang out with any of them. Most were too uptight, and his antics often annoyed them as much as it annoyed his own family.
But what he did remember about Byakuya Kuchiki was how much of a hard-ass he was, and from the sounds of it he still sounded like it. No matter how much people say otherwise.
"This is a matter that concerns the entire Gotei," Byakuya stated. "Do you think that something like this would be overlooked? I can assure you Uryu Ishida was overlooked, but only so much. Ichigo on the other hand would be under a lot more scrutiny, especially given the circumstances."
Isshin didn't need to hear him say it aloud; being a noble he had been through the class on subtle hints as to what he was referring to.
Basically the idea of there being a larger population of Quincy present in the World of the Living was likely an issue. It was a concern he first had when he learned Masaki was a Quincy, although it had passed through his mind for a brief second before he was grateful she was able to kill that Hollow.
But the bigger problem was that his son was a Quincy Hybrid, mingling like that was a completely unheard of concept. Because while conception between two species may be possible, the simple truth was that it was generally impossible for a spirit to impregnate or get impregnated by a living being.
It also implicated Urahara as he helped Isshin while he was in the World of the Living. Meaning that the Shopkeeper was also in the firing line, there was still some concern regarding his decision to remain outside the influence of the Gotei 13. Isshin could understand that he supposed, even he didn't know all the plans the former Captain had in store for the future.
"Even so this is a matter for me to handle, you don't see me barging into your home and demanding I ask how you met your wife," Isshin replied, that has gotten him a frosty stare from Kuchiki, but he was not going to change his stance. "You can ask me as many times as I want, but my answer is not going to change."
"No."
That single utterance broke some of the tension in the room, and Isshin looked to his son who was staring at him with a serious frown. There was some tension of his neck, his eyes darted slightly as if he was thinking on something and Isshin could tell that he needed to know.
"I know I said that you could me when you were ready. It has been seventeen months and that time never came," Ichigo said, examining his Quincy sword in his hand. His gaze seemed to become steadier before he looked right back at him. "I can't wait any longer, not after night."
Isshin wanted to tell him he could ask, that they could finally have the discussion he had been waiting to give him for some time but he had wanted it to be done between the two of them only.
His son however did not want to give him that choice. "This isn't a secret anymore and I am not going to be hiding in the shadows with this. They want to know, you tell them," Ichigo declared, and as much as Isshin wanted to argue he couldn't.
Making Ichigo go back on his word was impossible, whatever reason he had for suggestion it made sense only to him and Isshin knew that it was pointless to try and change his mind. There was no fault in his reasoning to inform the others. Rukia was a trusted friend, Byakuya was someone that Ichigo trusted as well and in turn was trusted by him and Uryu... well maybe telling him this would finally get Ryuken to stop being such a horrible parent.
Maybe, but not holding my breath, Isshin mused as he scratched the back of his head. "I guess if they want to listen I have no choice but to talk."
"Good. I would hate having to retell this to them when we are done," Ichigo replied, somehow keeping that serious frown in spite of the likely stupid reasoning.
"That is the reason, I had thought you had a better reason than that you idiot," Isshin remarked, before he sighed. "Take a seat."
They did so, only Urahara staying near the doorway to keep an eye on their unconscious guests.
"For me, this all started twenty-two years ago back when I was still the Captain of the Tenth Division. You probably already figured this out by now but I am actually from the Shiba Clan, I was the Clan head." Isshin said, recalling his life before he came to the World of the Living, he felt a lot younger then.
He recalled the time he had been a Captain, he had actually been one for about three decades before he had met Masaki. Before that he had running the Clan, keeping it in one piece after his nephew had recently died.
Hard times for everyone, but he did not deny that there was a great deal of simplicity in his life during that time.
"Never wanted the responsibility though, preferred to laze around and maybe chase girls. I still was young back then, wanted to do other things than run the clan that was falling apart or the Division that was probably being better led by my Third Seat. Although my damn Lieutenant always busted my chops whenever I wasn't doing anything, or made a comment on her boobs." Isshin said, shaking his head as the memories.
It had felt like a lifetime ago, sneaking away from the Division to take naps or go out to have some fun by himself. After getting away from the compound back at the Clan's estate he had thought that his worries were over, that he could finally relax and not have to worry about anything for the next few decades.
Rangiku was such a pain in the ass back then, wanting him to take his job seriously as a Captain and Clan Head. Always chasing after him and trying to force him to do his work, along with hers, never giving him a moments rest. All the while having those magnificent breasts of her on display, and getting mad when he mentioned them. Kind of hypocritical if you think about it.
A cough drew his attention; he looked to see his son giving him a deadpan look, one that all but said 'get to the point already'. It was a sentiment shared with the rest of the occupants around the table, even the ever stoic Byakuya appeared less than enthused with his storytelling.
"Fine," Isshin sighed, deciding it would be better to simply get to the heart of the matter. "Anyway, I was the Captain of the Tenth, and recently had received a report about two deceased Shinigami."
He recalled it easily enough; Toshiro had reported it to him while he was going over some of the Division's documents. Two Shinigami had died the previous month, with three others the month before that, and recent reports of unknown spiritual fluctuations in the World of the Living in Naruki City.
Little was known, no witnesses on the incidents as to what attacked the Shinigami but a Hollow was suspected. A powerful one at that to kill give Shinigami over three months, especially if one was an Officer.
"I took it upon myself to go and investigate," Isshin continued, leaving out the fact that he had done it more of a way to get out of paperwork that Rangiku was trying to force him to do. "When I arrived, I found the local Shinigami patrolling Naruki City and tried to hunt this Hollow down."
He paused, allowing himself to lose any sense of jovialness in his expression as this part, he was deadly serious about. "But I underestimated what kind of Hollow it was." To say the least. He had fought hollows before and what he faced there was no Hollow. It wasn't even an Arrancar, it was something else entirely, almost felt like he had been fighting another Shinigami rather than some Hollow.
"Didn't know what it was at first, I lured it in with my spiritual pressure and it killed the two guys I had spoken with. Poor bastards never stood a chance, not against that thing," Isshin said, shaking his head as he recalled the meeting between him and that thing.
"I recall you mentioning it was a Menos-Class hollow in your debriefing," Byakuya stated.
"It was, might have even been a Vasto Lorde for all I knew, had the power of one if I had to guess. Lucky I survived against it. It wasn't like any normal hollow though, remember what else I said during that meeting?" Isshin asked, looking to Byakuya.
"Black skinned, Hollow hole filled with some sort of mass, fought uncharacteristically like a Shinigami," Byakuya stated.
"Spot on," Isshin nodded, recalling the grueling fight against that thing. "But that thing was far from normal."
"You think it was one of Aizen's experiments?" Ichigo asked.
"More than likely," Isshin replied, recalling many other little facts that happened during that fight. He had struggled against that thing, and when casualties started to pile up as wayward Shinigami got between him and the Hollow. Before anyone else could get caught in the crossfire he had been forced to use his Shikai to fight it. There was even the idea of using Bankai to finish it off, but that had been forced from his hands after he had been wounded. The Hollow had never touched him, but he had been cut by someone he did not see.
The wound had debilitated him, just enough so that he couldn't use his Bankai. That left him wounded and unable to use his trump card, along with having people out there he couldn't see that could attack at any moment.
It was a near even match, Isshin recalled several wounds he had taken during the scuffle and he had been able to deal a single debilitating strike. Lopping off its arm had been the high point in that fight, as it was the only time he had been able to do some actual damage to the thing.
Sad to say the loss of its limb did little to hamper its fighting ability. If anything, it seemed to only make it more aggressive.
"I struggled against it, took a real beating and even with it missing an arm it didn't even faze it. I was on a downward slope, slowly losing ground against it, and likely would have kicked the bucket had it not been for your mother." Isshin said, smiling as he recalled the moment she appeared. "Like a damn angel coming from nowhere she attacked it, and she saved me."
She appeared from absolutely nowhere, firing at that damn hollow from the street and looking damn brave even when it came right for her. She was young then, still in High School, but still a fierce girl when she had to head into a fight.
"She drew its attention, brought it in close and took a hit. It latched onto her shoulder and sunk its teeth in, and when it was up nice and close she finished it off," Isshin said with a smile, remembering it as if were yesterday.
Masaki had summoned up a small bow in her hand and used it to literally blow the damn things head off; it was impressive how she was able to handle the thing so quickly. It took her less than a minute from engaging to lure it in and finish the damn thing off in a single blow.
It was a thing of beauty and absolutely incredible.
"The thing that was in its hollow hole however was some sort of insurance policy so that nothing could be recovered, it was going to explode. I swooped in and got her away before it could detonate." He was lucky he was able to get to her fast enough to get her away from the Hollow, he was not so lucky however and took the full brunt of the explosion. Probably the worst shape he had been in, so beaten and bloody that he couldn't even stand on his own two feet.
But he wasn't alone, she was there.
"She didn't run though, Masaki came running up to me to make sure I was alright. Brave girl, knowing what I was and having no idea what that would mean if she revealed it. But she did," Isshin continued, shaking his head.
When she had told him her name and that she was a Quincy, even as she told him he could see the concern on her face. She was worried about what he would think about her, about her being a Quincy, after all the relationship between Shinigami and Quincy was quite hostile. And as he learned later it was a sentiment shared by many of her family.
"I thanked her for her help. Even as she healed me we didn't really talk about ourselves, she didn't even ask me my name. I didn't know why at first, how innocent she was and kind somehow stuck with me," Isshin said, he didn't know why he said that, but he felt it was needed.
For that woman had somehow drawn him in when they met, that single moment that passed between them had defined everything for them. After that day he never could get her out of his mind, she seemed to have infected his thoughts and he wondered if he should have gone back to see her.
It was a decision he never regretted.
He should have known it wouldn't have ended so easily.
He knew he had truly managed to take the Old Man by surprise. Had it been any other entity as their opponent, they would have been felled by the shot his ally had taken. Unfortunately for them, the Old Man displayed the same surge of increasing strength that had become rather bothersome. A strength that allowed him to move quickly enough that the arrow went through his left shoulder instead of his heart. Every time Tensa Zangetsu thought they had gained a clear advantage, the Old Man start to match their battle power until he would become greater than them.
Damn cheater indeed, he thought as he leaped to the side, avoiding a barrage of arrows by the Old Man, who had broken free of the chains that had bound him. As the battle continued, Tensa Zangetsu noticed that the ruins around him were now being reduced to even smaller chunks of rubble in the sand. There were still broken towers in the distance, but at the rate this battle was going he doubted it would take long before the last remnants of Ichigo's former Inner World would be gone.
While that was something he wished, for false hope and desire to be made into ashes so something new may rise, he was concerned that it was happening because of the destructive influence of Yhwach.
He had stepped up on the offensive. They had been mostly even since Tensa and Zangetsu become one, with himself and the Old Man each sharing a few moments where one had the upper hand. Tensa Zangetsu had thought that with her here the Old Man would be finally on the defensive, but he was proving violently uncooperative in submitting. If there was one thing that they all shared, in spite of being enemies, it was their stubbornness to never give up.
That was proving to be more than just a nuisance at this point.
He saw the Old Man raise his hand, a trio of arrows hovering above him, and with a gesture they were sent flying. Tensa shifted himself around to counter, but someone beat him to the punch and the arrows were shot out of the air. Smirking he lunged forward, blades at the ready as he thrust towards the Old Man.
His first strike was countered, as expected, but when he swung the second the doppelganger was only able to raise his arm to block the strike. Blood was shed, a minor amount, but that wound was one of several he had been able to land thanks to his new partner.
"You are getting overconfident, a few minor scrapes and you think I am on my last limb. I see that hollow has improved your power but dampened you common sense," the Old Man stated, seizing Tensa Zangetsu's wrist and pulling him into the path of an arrow.
Tensa Zangetsu looked back to see the arrow moving for him, the dark bolt slammed into his back. He felt the sharp barb shatter against his heirro before it seemed to carve its way across his torso. Even with his iron skin it felt painful as it raked his skin.
Then it reformed on his chest and the arrow shot out and collided with the Old Man, lodging itself into his shoulder. The energy soon formed a set of chains, one connected to the doppelgangers shoulder and the rest wrapped around Tensa Zangetsu's body, effectively forcing them to remain within proximity.
Dammit! Tensa Zangetsu thought, those chains had restricted one of his arms. I lost track of that one!
Raising his other blade he was able to block a slash, not an easy thing with how close he was stuck next to the Old Man. A distance he did not wish to keep. As soon as the Old Man made to attack again Tensa Zangetsu swing down and shattered the chain connecting them, and then tried to back away while parrying the strike.
He failed, a nice wound dug through his shoulder and into his chest. It was only thanks to his hasty retreat that it hasn't completely removed his arm.
Scowling he kept falling back, keeping his distance as the Old Man pursued. His arm was still restrained, forcing himself to keep to the defensive rather than making a counter attack.
"I need these chains gone!" Tensa Zangetsu yelled to his ally. After her kill shot had been thwarted, the Old Man had tried to single her out, forcing Tensa Zangetsu take him on alone while she worked from the shadows, sniping at the Old Man with her arrows when she had the opportunity. For now he was hoping she'd see his predicament and fire a shot through chains.
Instead another series of arrows were sent flying towards the Old Man. The doppelganger leaped upwards, avoiding the bolts all together, before he swung his sword and summoned up a large arrow. However the distraction had allowed Tensa Zangetsu the time needed to slash through the chain and leaped aside before the Old Man's arrow impacted the ground.
The sudden burst of energy nearly caught him, but he noticed that the very arrow seems to be absorbing everything around it. He is pulling out his most powerful abilities to contend with them, Tensa Zangetsu realized before he felt an overwhelming presence above him. He had no time to react as the Old Man was now on top of him. His enemy grasped him by the throat and forced him downwards and into the side of a fallen building. Before he could swing his sword, the Old Man swung his swiftly, a wave of energy slammed into sword arm. This energy became a set of chains, pinning him to the building.
Tensa Zangetsu's mind worked overtime in desperation to figure out a way to escape the doppelganger's grasp and not get stabbed. He had no way to break the man's grip or divert the sword with the foot firmly planted on his wrist, and with his other hand still bound in chains he wasn't going to use that arm.
"Even together you were no threat," the Old Man sneered as he held his blade, ready to impale him upon it.
That statement held a great deal of weight behind it, because it actually gave Tensa Zangetsu an idea. It may be risky and could cost them down the road, but at the moment there was no other choice but to risk a delayed defeat than an immediate one.
For as soon as the Old Man stabbed that blade down Tensa Zangetsu ceased to be. Now he was no longer Tensa Zangetsu, he was Tensa and Zangetsu.
The blade impacted the stone face of the building, completely missing its intended target. Who had in a flash of light and energy separated themselves into their original forms, and then they both swung their blade up towards the Old Man's neck.
Because of the surprising tactic the Old Man was caught unawares, but that had only allowed them to strike and force him to let go of his weapon. He leaped back up and avoided the blades from touching his jugular.
Tensa gritted his teeth, he knew that this was a gamble but right now they were in very dangerous waters. Their fused form was much more powerful than either of them individually, even when working together. So now they were going to be facing against the Old Man without their trump card, something that had made their fight all that much easier.
"Dammit woman!" Zangetsu yelled. "What the hell was that with the chains?!"
"I didn't have a clear shot," the woman coolly returned. "Or would you have preferred to have lost an arm? Even with your high-speed regeneration, I don't think you can afford to be short a limb."
Tensa turned towards the woman, standing only a few feet away and holding her black bow in her hand, arrow notched and waiting to be fired. The three of them stood side by side, watching as their nemesis stared them down.
"Finally decided to step forward? Are you that eager to return back your King?" The Old Man asked.
"He is not my King," she growled. "I am, however, eager to drive an arrow through your heart."
"That I am afraid will not come to pass," the Old Man responded, smiling slightly as he charged forward.
Tensa raised his sword and blocked the strike, he skidded back several feet. He knew now that they were at a severe disadvantage, that strike had actually cracked his sword. The Old Man was too powerful, none of them had the raw power to match him, not in might and certainly not in ability. He had the advantage, proven when he casually cast aside Zangetsu and then went onto the offensive with their female companion.
She was lithe though, avoiding the wide swing easily enough before firing off a trio of arrows. But the doppelganger was not easily struck, swinging his blade around her deflected each bolt and sent them twirling in the air.
Yet as she landed her hand reached for the chains that had once bound his fused form, tossing it up and above the Old Man. The interlocking chains connected to the twirling arrows through threads of reishi, and with a single gesture the net and arrows dropped down.
The Old Man was caught in the net, bound to the ground and restricted if only for a moment Tensa chose to attack. Lunging forward he stabbed his blade forward, but his premature attack resulted in a most unexpected outcome.
His stab was deflected by an outstretched hand, even bound in chains he still was not as immobile first thought. But that was a minor thing, compared to the blade tip currently lodged in his abdomen.
"Honestly, did you think I would be that easily chained down?" the Old Man mocked, pulling the blade to the side.
That once shallow stab wound now left a nice little cut along Tensa's stomach, painful to be sure but not a threat to his existence. Although this was but a taste of the agony he was going to feel through this fight before he was eventually reabsorbed back into the whole. All of them stood no chance against the Old Man, they were just not powerful enough.
"Do not feel regret, this was always how it was meant to go. There is no use in shedding tears or bemoaning your existence, accept this gladly and you will feel satisfaction when the end comes," the Old Man said as if it had always been meant to be.
The chain broke away from him, and he calmly walked towards Tensa. That great sword in his hand was raised, the arm holding it was tense and filled with power that was waiting to be unleashed with the swing. "Now die, and remember the purpose in which you exist."
Tensa knew that his weapon would shatter the moment his blade was touched, he couldn't dodge or escape, he was done for.
At least he thought he was.
Two blades rose up and blocked the attack, the familiar black katana of Zangetsu and another narrow sword of pulsing red reishi. Both of them holding off the larger weapon and saving his existence from being ended.
"Why the hell do I have to save your ass all the time? Man up already," Zangetsu muttered, straining as the downward pressure from the Old Man's blade began to increase.
The woman remained silent, preferring to concentrate on the task at hand. Yet Tensa could finally see past her hood, looking upon her face. Only her mouth was visible, the rest was hidden behind a bone white mask that reminded him of Ichigo's former Hollow mask, markings and all. It seems she took after the Hollow more than who she was actually was.
"The rapid dog and shadow think they stand a chance, you never had any the moment you chose to face me," the Old Man scoffed, his blade swiping to the side and throwing Zangetsu away.
The woman counter attacked, ducking down as the blade sailed her way and drew a second sword from her hip and swung it out. A burst of dark red reishi shot from the small black handle and sliced into the Quincy Fragment's chest.
The Old Man stumbled back a step, eyes wide and shocked by the sudden attack, it had obviously done something to him. He glanced down and felt at his torso, finding actual blood drenching his hand.
"It may not be real blood, but I know when something hurts, and that more than likely hurt," she sneered, holding her swords at her side. "And I want you to feel every single cut I give you."
Remarkable, she had somehow managed to cut me? But how could she... his eyes narrowed in disgust when he saw the weapons clearly in her hands. "I should be impressed, but I am angered that such holy instruments would be perverted and used for such heinous means," the Old Man said through clenched teeth. "I can feel the Hollow energies coursing through them. They are an abomination, a corruption of the holy Quincy craft that has been upheld for over three millennia. Even for a Shadow, I expected you to hold more to the woman whose face you wear."
"Abomination, yes that would be true at least from your point of view," she mocked him. "After all, even if you are a representative of Yhwach, you are just like all other Soul Fragments. They are weak to Hollow energies; these chaotic and corrosive energies will wear away at the soul and kill you, just like these Seele Schinders here."
"You seek to use such things against me? When I only try to save Ichigo?" the Old Man asked. "Surely you have the memories of that woman. You must know what it is like to want to protect him. Why would you betray him like this? To subjugate him to such a cruel fate?"
"A cruel fate?" She narrowed her eyes at him once more. "Your very existence has all but ensured he would succumb to that nightmare! You are a hypocrite! A liar who preaches about peace and balance, but all you do is destroy, murder and subjugate anything in your way!" her voice showing more and more anger and rage the longer she spoke. "There is no mercy in you, no compassion! Everything you are is an abomination upon nature that should never have come to exist!"
"Necessary sacrifices, do you think that to create a world with peace and without suffering one must do so without bloodshed? This world has been corrupted by the delusion that everything must stay the way it is, that it cannot be changed, that all must exist as it is said to be," the Old Man argued. "I want to change that, to make a world without such misery. You are the stagnating fools that cannot accept this, that simply cannot let go."
"The same can be said for you, never letting go of that fear. Still that same mewling child that never could get over his own dread," the Lady replied, having composed herself from her earlier outburst. "Ichigo deserves to live, to grow old, and to die, like anyone else. I will not deny him that, I will let him choose his life and go through it as he sees fit."
"Whether we choose for him or not, he will never be given such a chance. I offer a better alternative and one that is free of pain," the Old Man said. "What could you possibly offer him? You are but a Shadow? Do you think he will embrace you? Love you? No, he will only see the pain that life can bring and all the misery that it entails."
"Such lofty words," Tensa said, strolling forward. "Has so much time passed that now you think yourself some form of divine savior?"
"You are nothing more than a deceitful angel," the lady returned. "You call me a shadow? That I may be, but I will be there for Ichigo. A comforting shadow that will never leave him."
"And she's worth more than you, asshole," Zangetsu said, strolling up beside the two of them. "If you think we are going to just up and die, you have another thing coming."
All three manifestations had their weapons drawn, Tensa and Zangetsu with their swords while the Lady had sheathed her swords and pulled out her bow. All three were ready to fight together against their common enemy.
"We have said it before and we will keep saying it until you accept it. You will not harm Ichigo, Yhwach!" Tensa declared.
The Old Man glared at them all in disdain. Were they truly this stupid? Did they not know they were doomed from the start? That his will was law?
"Do not believe you will win!" the corruption roared and the entire world became flooded with his power. "For against me, you have no future!"
Ichigo never expected to hear this kind of story when he asked the question that had been presented to him eighteen months ago. He had imagined this conversation happening in a multitude of ways, some serious, heartbreaking, maybe a few stupidly.
He always thought that when he asked the question, how his father was a Shinigami? That he would come to better understand himself.
But after this night's escapades, he had no idea how to process what he had been told. He had imagined a lot would have happened, many revelations about his father and his history being revealed. How he met his mother and why he stayed, beside the obvious reason that he was lucky to even be looked at by her.
Ichigo did not expect that his mother was a Quincy, one that had been infected by a Hollow that she and his father had thought they had killed. She would have died before he was even born if wasn't for Urahara, whom he still couldn't believe factored into his life even before he was born. The former Captain had come up with the treatment needed to save his mother, even if it required his father to give up his own Shinigami powers and live as a human for the rest of her life. He gave up everything for his mother.
But what really had taken center stage right now was a single underlying fact. Ishida Uryu, that bespectacled ass who was always on his case, was his second cousin. That didn't seem to pass Ishida either, as they two of them were staring at each other with not so little shock.
They were related. They had the same Great Grandparent.
"…"
Neither of them had anything to say on the matter, and it felt like a subject that they did not wish to broach at the moment. Something Ichigo was secretly glad for, he had enough on his mind already that he didn't need to add having an emotional talk with his Cousin.
"Masaki left the Ishida family and household after she graduated from High School," Isshin informed them. "They came to a decision that she would need to leave, considering she had been tainted by a Hollow, the decision was not difficult. More than likely it was Ryuken's decision to let her leave, probably his way to let her escape from the shadow of the family."
Ichigo tuned back in, deciding that he needed to focus on the rest. It was reaching its climax and he did not wish to miss anything important.
His father explained how he had opened a clinic, with the help of Urahara, having come to decision due to having actual skills in healing from when he was at the Shino Academy. It went on from there, details on how she would visit him often to hang out and simply make fun of him wearing white. How a friendship developed between them, slowly developing into something more.
"She could always tell when something was on my mind, when I would lie, when I was nervous, when I was genuinely upset," Isshin told them. "Masaki always had this knack for understanding me, don't tell me how but she could see right through me. She was always there, to listen to what I had to say, forgive me for telling those lies, and give some reassurance when I needed it."
His father seemed happy reminiscing about those times and Ichigo couldn't truly blame him for thinking so. His childhood with his mother was probably the happiest moments in his life, filled with certainty and peace. Ichigo never could not imagine feeling as assured and centered as he was back then ever again.
"I remember seeing a movie once, don't recall the name – wasn't really paying attention to it that much – but I do remember one scene. The guy was comparing this woman he loved to the sun, how it was the center of his universe, how everything revolved around her and kept everything stable and perfect. That it was perfect with her," Isshin wistfully said. "I remember seeing her crying, and in that moment I realized that she was my sun. The one thing in my life left that kept me balanced and right in my world." He signed and looked up to his son. "Nine months later you were born."
Then that was the secret, one that his father had presented to him and had intent to explain before Ichigo cast it off. Ichigo had put it off for so long because he didn't want to be reminded of his loss, the power he forsook in order to protect everyone.
Yet his father's words gave clarity and insight that he did not have, and understanding to where these strange powers came from. Questions still lingered, unanswered, and they make him think deeply on how this came to be.
"I know that you wanted to know this, even when things were bad after the war, I just," Isshin stumbled, running a hand through the back of his hair. "I just didn't know how to really broach it to you."
"…Dad. Thanks for telling me."
It was calm and blunt; he did not need to say it any other way. This was a long time coming, had it not been so serious and thought-provoking Ichigo would have suspected there would be more emotion behind this. Perhaps it would never have happened at all, he would never have been forced to ask these questions from his father.
"Something on your mind?" Kisuke asked, noticing the peculiar look on Ichigo's face.
"Dad answered some questions, but more are out there." Ichigo replied. "When I received the blade, I was told that I didn't know everything about myself, and who he was."
"Who are you talking about?" Kisuke inquired.
"Zangetsu, he told me he hid this from me. Kept it a secret," But the problem lay in why he had kept this a secret. What could have compelled him to keep something like this hidden? What was it about this that made it a taboo to speak of? Ichigo had no idea, but there had to be more to this than he knew. For his father gave origins to this power, and his reasons for hiding them were thinly kept and never broached.
Zangetsu on the other hand, he had never spoken of this. He had not given a single hint about this power since the moment they met.
"When did he tell you this?" Kisuke asked, leaning forward curiously.
"Right before I claimed the Quincy blade, Tsukishima was about to kill me. But then Zangetsu came to me and told me he has been keeping a secret," Ichigo replied. "He told me of it, showed me where it was and allowed me to draw it out. It was what saved my life." He looked up, and to his confusion saw that they were giving him some looks of disbelief. "What?"
"You do realize that is impossible right?" Kisuke asked plainly.
"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked confused.
"A Zanpakuto spirit cannot manifest without the power behind it also existing, a Zanpakuto spirit is a materialization and physical representation of your power. If your Shinigami powers were not restored than technically Zangetsu couldn't exist." Urahara informed him.
"Well, technically it was Tensa Zangetsu," Ichigo replied. "He brought me into my Inner World."
"So… you're saying your Bankai told you?" Kisuke asked.
"Ichigo, that is impossible!" Rukia exclaimed.
"How is that impossible?" Ichigo asked, feeling annoyed.
"She means that without your powers you could not have materialized a Zanpakuto spirit," Byakuya bluntly stated, drawing Ichigo's attention. "Let alone talk to him within your own mind."
Ichigo shook his head, denying this. "But this happened before. Back after you severed my connection the powers Rukia gave me and I went through Urahara's training to gain my own Shinigami powers. In the Shattered Shaft, I was beginning to hollowfy when I was pulled into my Inner World and met with Zangetsu there for the first time!"
Again he was met with some disbelieving stares; it was obvious that what he was telling them wasn't getting through to them. Why was it so hard for them to believe me? But then he saw the pale look on his father's face.
"That cannot be," Isshin said, staring at his son with a look of horror. "You should not be able to see your Zanpakuto spirit until you claim your powers. That spirit can't be-"
"He is!" Ichigo shouted, so frustrated with the disbelief direct towards him he let his emotions get the better of him. "I know who my Zanpakuto spirit is! Hell, I stabbed my Zanpakuto through one of Kisuke's special dummies to manifest him so I could achieve Bankai as fast as I could! Zangetsu has been there for me since the beginning! We have spoken so many times! I talked with him today and he said…" Ichigo halted there, coming to realize something. "He said…"
It took him a moment, to realize what had been said between them after their long-awaited reunion.
"I have already told you; I am not Zangetsu, Ichigo. I am Tensa and I have never lied to you."
He had kept a secret from him, one that he felt had caused him much hindrance. But what he just learned now, from everyone around him, he realized maybe that secret was not about this power. Perhaps it was about who Tensa really was.
"Ichigo?" Rukia asked. Ichigo did not respond, he rose from his seat and went to retrieve his blades. "Ichigo, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting my answers."
"No!" Isshin shouted, grabbing his son and putting him against the wall. He gave Ichigo the most serious look he had ever seen. "You are not going to speak to whatever that thing is! Not until we figure out how to contain it and then remove it!"
"Dad," Ichigo muttered, at first surprised by how his father had reacted. It was as if there was something else that worried him. But still, his core problem remained. He looked at his father, fully committed to his current course. "I need to do this."
"For one in your life stop being so damn reckless!" Isshin roared. "You have no idea what—!"
Ichigo saw his father's eyes roll in the back of his head as he started to fall down, with Ichigo catching him before he did. Looking up, he saw Urahara, holding the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"I'm sorry, Isshin," Urahara said with some amount of regret. "But we don't have the luxury of taking it safe."
"He is going to be pissed at you," Ichigo stated as he laid his unconscious father with his back against the wall.
"I willingly accept whatever punishment he wants to enact on me," Urahara responded, removing his hat so Ichigo could see his eyes and know how serious he was now. "But this needs resolved now. Be careful, Ichigo. I have a feeling that your night of revelations has only just begun."
Ichigo nodded and went to the next room. He dropped to the floor, placed the blades over his lap and closed his eyes to concentrate.
He awoke a moment later, a dry breeze blowing over his face and flecks of sand colliding his brow. Looking onward, he found himself on the precipice of a ruined building, looking out over a vast white desert.
It reminded Ichigo of Hueco Mundo, the endless white sands of the Realm of Hollows. But he could see the rubble that jutted from the sand; these were the buildings of his Inner World.
I don't understand. Why are all skyscrapers broken? He asked himself as he looked around and felt the world around him. He felt no weight and pressure on his shoulders, that crushing ocean of despair was gone. It's only been a few hours since Tensa pulled me in here. Did unlocking my Quincy powers and regaining my Shinigami and Fullbring powers cause such a massive change? Or was it something else?
Leaping from his perch he searched the sands, looking for anyone that may dwell here. Tensa would be the one he thought would be here, but his mind eerily thought of his Hollow and how this place was a perfect little home for him. A perfect reflection of Hueco Mundo, this definitely would be somewhere he would love to live.
"Too much is going on right now, too many questions and too few answers," Ichigo thought aloud. "I need to figure this out right now. The longer I am in the dark the harder this is going to be for me to figure it out."
Only one person can help him discover the truth, and searching for him through this place is not going to be easy. This place was vast, and if Tensa had not appeared immediately since his entry Ichigo assumed that he could be anywhere in his psyche. It would take some time and that alone was causing Ichigo's nerves to flake.
"I want to get this sorted out, to finally be ahead and not have things hidden from me," Ichigo growled. His time working with the Gotei had revealed that he was entirely clueless to a great deal.
He often did not mind it that much, so long as this did not interfere with his desire to protect his home and friends he would not pry for information. Now things were different, he was older and wiser. He had no intention of staying in the dark any longer. His dad had come clean and now it was time for Tensa to do the same. Of course I need to find him first. With how endless the Inner World looks now. He could be anywhere.
Suddenly something exploded out of his peripheral, a body flying through the air and towards him. He recognized the person, the one person he was looking for. It was as if his subconscious had decided to punch the one person he was looking for in his direction, as least that was the thought that came to mind.
"Tensa!" Ichigo yelled out, watching as the spirit slammed into the sands and rolled to a stop. He rushed over quickly to the spirit, wondering what could have happened to cause this violent entrance.
"Ichigo," Tensa muttered, rising up slowly as his sword arm slumped to his side. "I do not know if I should be relieved or concerned."
"What happened to you? What is…?" Ichigo tried to ask, but he felt something approaching.
His instinct warned him, and he quickly reached for his Zanpakuto and blocked the strike. He felt his arms shake, his legs buckle, and entire body lock up when he saw the person he was fighting against.
"Old Man?" Ichigo asked with wide eyes. "What... what happened to you?"
The Old Man said nothing at first, only narrowing his eyes and looked to Ichigo as if he were annoyed. "How troublesome for you to be here."
"What?" Ichigo muttered, in disbelief at how the being who had been beside him for so long now seemed irritated by his appearance.
"You have no idea of what is to come. Better that I disable you until I have dealt with them," he said, only for Ichigo to be unnerved by the twisted smile that came to his lips. "Then we shall discuss our future."
Ichigo had barely a moment to react before he was no longer in a deadlock with the Old Man, instead he saw him by his side swinging his blade upwards. He was fast, faster than he remembered him to be. The surprise would have cost him, probably a limb in fact, had it not been the arrow that had caught the Old Man and pinned his arm to the ground. Trapped for a moment he tried to rise up, while Ichigo made a quick get away before he could attack again.
Breaking free, the Old Man attempted to attack but a strike from above forced him down a knee. A Cero colliding with him and flattering him to the ground, Ichigo looked up and saw to his surprise his Inner Hollow there.
But beside him was another figure that he had never seen before, regardless of the world he was in. A red cloaked individual that had some sort of body armor that was reminiscent of his Fullbring. As the Cero faded, the figure in red fired a red arrow from the black bow that had suddenly materialized in his or her hands. The arrow then split apart into multiple bolts and dragged behind it a series of chains. They fell upon the Old Man and immobilized him onto the ground, as he tried to rise and break free several more arrows struck him, punching through his arms and legs and impaling him to the ground.
"What have you done!" the Old Man hissed, lifting his sword arm up with the intent of cutting his way free.
Ichigo would have moved to intercept but both his Inner Hollow and the stranger appeared in front of him. The Hollow had with him his inverted zanpakuto, while the woman had apparently discarded her bow to wield a red version of one of Ishida's Seele Schinders. The two drove their blades each through an arm of the Old Man and pinned him completely to the ground. Both of them stepped away, admiring their good work.
"Didn't think we would have been able to do it," his Inner Hollow said, smirking as he crossed his arms.
"It was by chance, we would have gotten him eventually. Thankfully Ichigo coming here took his attention." the unknown person said, whom Ichigo could now assume was a woman by the sound of her voice.
But why does her voice sound familiar? He asked himself as he turned to Tensa. He watched as the spirit he had always assumed to be that of his zanpakuto began to hobble forward as he held his side.
Tensa's glare was steady and focused on the bound older version of himself. "We told you, that you would not harm him. You have been beaten. Submit."
"Submit?" the Old Man laughed, clearly amused by the demand. "All you have done is bought time, chains cannot hold me down forever, and your blade cannot cut through my skin. These fools should have gone for the head."
"Don't tempt me," the Inner Hollow said, holding his right hand up, now pulsating with hollow energy, as if he was preparing for a Cero. "After all you have done, it would be more than justified to blow your head off."
"Alright! What the hell is going on here?!" Ichigo yelled, turning to all present, his confusion turned to frustration as he now had so many questions that needed to be answered. "Who is she? Who is the Old Man? And most of all, who are you? Who are you really?"
Tensa seemed to be silent for a moment, before he turned towards his Inner Hollow, who had lowered his hand. He looked back at Tensa with an infuriating smirk. "Hey, don't look at me. This is your mess, Tensa. You need to clean it up. Me and Red have got guard duty," His Inner Hollow said, giving a smirk.
Tensa sighed, turning towards Ichigo and composing himself. "Ichigo, I know that you have many questions, I will try to answer them all at once. But please, be patient as I explain." Ichigo gave him a firm nod asking him to continue.
"I am not a Zanpakuto Spirit, and neither is this man here; we are one in the same. We are both manifestations of your Quincy power and heritage, two pieces of a single fragment that have split from one another." Tensa explained, gesturing to the older version of himself.
Ichigo stared back at Tensa before asking the obvious. "Why? Why would you pretend to be Zangetsu?"
"In the beginning, he and I," Tensa pointed to the restrained Old Man. "were one entity and we had a single, simple goal: to prevent you from becoming a true Shinigami. We never wanted that for you. We did everything we could to suppress your latent potential, including becoming your primary source of power."
"You tried to keep me from being the thing that I needed to be to protect the ones I cared for," Ichigo asked, trying not to let his anger show.
"I told you before, what you wish to protect and what I wish to protect are two different things," Tensa said calmly, yet Ichigo saw the regret in his eyes. "To become a Shinigami would mean risking life and limb. It would expose you to numerous perils, experience pain and loss and put you on that path that would lead to your death."
"Did you really have that little faith in me?" Ichigo asked candidly. "If you really are the manifestation of my Quincy powers, then you should know me well enough to understand."
"I do, as I am now," Tensa answered. "But back then, I was very different." He looked back to the Old Man, who smiled at the discomfort Tensa had. "As I said before, when he and I were one we became your primary source of power. However, you still managed to use your zanpakuto. You did in fact awaken it. We simply caged Zangetsu, the true Zangetsu, in order to limit your connection."
Ichigo frowned for a moment, trying to discern the meaning before he recalled something else. He turned towards his Inner Hollow, with eyes opened wide as the realization quickly dawned upon him.
"I told you I was Zangetsu," his Hollow, or rather his Zanpakuto spirit, said smirking widely.
Ichigo rubbed his forehead, another damn clue right in front of him and he never questioned it, all of this hidden and put to the side because he didn't know a single key piece of information.
"Betting you thought I was just some run of the mill Hollow infecting you right? Not entirely untrue," Zangetsu stated, giving an uncaring shrug. "Can't blame you there, even if it was your dumb ass that never considered other options. Instead you simply listened what everyone else told you."
Ichigo could tell that this would be a subject he would not let go, but one that Ichigo needed to figure out. So he decided to skip ahead. "You were the Hollow that attacked my mother. Over twenty years ago, right?"
"Part of me is," Zangetsu replied. He smirked seeing the confused look on his face. "The Hollow that latched onto your mother's soul when it attacked her. After it did that, the hollow tried to assimilate her but couldn't. It was designed to assimilate Zanpakuto and then Shinigami. So it remained dormant within your mother, until she gave birth to you and passed that sleeping Hollow unto you."
Ichigo looked back at Zangetsu in shock. "You're saying, I've had a Hollow in my soul since the day I was born?"
Zangetsu nodded. "When you became a Shinigami, the Hollow awoke and immediately started absorbing your unformed Zanpakuto and once it finished doing that it would go on to absorb you. However, because of your unique heritage it didn't turn out that way. Your unique heritage blocked the Hollow's attempts, breaking down its will and allowed the half absorbed Zanpakuto spirit to fight back. That allowed you to use your Quincy powers, regardless of you being aware of them, to subjugate the assimilation."
"So what are you?" Ichigo asked. "Zanpakuto? Hollow?"
Zangetsu had a wide grin on his face. "I'm unique Ichigo. I'm both. The instincts of a hollow and the will of an unformed Zanpakuto merged together into one spirit. You did what no other Shinigami had ever done, and it sure as shit wasn't as simple as those Visored made it out to be."
"So you still got that drive to assimilate me?" Ichigo asked.
"No. I am your instinct, I've told you that many times already," Zangetsu chided his partner. "However the merger, while stable, was far from ideal. In the beginning, my thoughts were still more reflective of the Hollow that became a part of me. Its instinct was assimilate all that it infected, but over time I developed more as true Zanpakuto spirit, and began to have my own thoughts."
"You still tried to take over my body." Ichigo countered.
Zangetsu rolled his eyes at the young man. "Yes. As I said, in the beginning, I was more overwhelmingly hollow than Zanpakuto spirit in nature. It's why I and Tensa's original self agreed to have him hold the reins until my… condition could be sorted out."
He didn't say anything from there, likely leaving out details best left unsaid. Given the brutal methods Zangetsu used to try and take him over it would be wrong to assume that he was regretful for doing it. He trained Ichigo to fight with everything he had, and likely used fear and near certain defeat to force him to grow stronger.
But he had his answers, for Zangetsu that was. Tensa on the other hand needed to give him some more answers.
"What about the Old Man?" Ichigo asked. "You said you split from him, why?"
"He represents a different aspect of me, one that is still loyal to the holder of the Fragment. Where I wished for you to be free of pain and suffering, he would impose it on you," Tensa replied.
"Lying again I see, and I thought we are meant to be telling the truth," the Old Man said, smiling widely as he made the declaration. "Tell him the truth; let him hear it from your own mouth."
Ichigo glanced from the Old Man and back to Tensa.
"This fragment within you, it has passed down through your family for over ninety generations, passed down through your bloodline until it was inherited by you," Tensa explained. "These fragments come from the progenitor of the Quincy Race, a single individual that was once revered through history as a god. His name is Yhwach."
Ichigo raised a brow. He did not expect that the Quincy had existed so long. Ninety generations? That was over three thousand years. But why does that matter? He asked himself. The Quincy race as a whole is gone. The only ones that have any Quincy blood left are me, Ishida, his father, and my sisters.
Ichigo actually sent a silent prayer of thanks that neither Karin nor Yuzu had manifested any Quincy abilities. It was more than enough that Karin could actually see spirits while Yuzu was still unable to, though he supposed it was the big brother in him talking. It was something he'd have to worry about in the future. Even so, with only five people of Quincy blood left, what did it matter?
"How does this relate to him?" Ichigo asked, gesturing towards the Old Man. As he made the gesture, he noticed the smile on the fragment's face. That smirk, a conniving and sinister grin that said he knew something that Ichigo didn't.
"He is obeying the will of Yhwach, the Quincy King who is very much still alive," the Lady announced, stepping forward. "He has been hiding from the world, from the Shinigami, for over a thousand years. But soon he will hide no longer."
Ichigo turned to this unknown figure. The fact that she was wearing something similar to his completed Fullbring suggested that there was a connection him, but then why was she wearing a version of his Hollow Mask. And her voice. Every time she speaks, it's like I should know it. "Who are you?"
She hesitated for a moment, shifting on her feet nervously it seemed, before glancing towards Tensa and Zangetsu. Both of them giving subtle gestures to her, it was obvious they were trying to coach her through this introduction.
"Once you know who I am, everything will change Ichigo. You will never be able to unlearn the secrets that will be laid bare before you," the woman told him. "Are you prepared to learn the truth?"
Ichigo stared at her, his eyes resolute. "I knew the moment I dived into my inner world this night that there was much I had no idea about, that had I chosen to ignore for the sake of protecting my friends and family. But I can no longer afford to be ignorant. I need to know all that has been hidden, even in my own soul." He took a moment to steady himself further before speaking. "Show me who you are."
After a moment, the Lady complied with his request. Slowly, she removed her hood and grasped the bone mask over her face. Her pale orange hair stood out, a near match of his own. And when her mask descended Ichigo felt himself freeze, every nerve in his body locked up as he looked onto the face of the woman.
She gave a small smile, her deep brown eyes spoke of some sadness in them. He could not do anything, just stand there looking at a face he thought he would only ever see in his memories and dreams.
His mother.
Masaki Kurosaki.