Ichigo strolled through the neighborhood on his way to high school. He didn't care about being late. Right now, he wanted to see the normal Karakura Town once more. He sighed heavily. He had lived in the scrambled dimension for nineteen years. His subconscious was trying to find that Karakura.

He clenched his fist on the thought of seeing Keigo and Mizuiro. He would be seeing the two for the first time in sixteen years. He remembered the agony they were in before they died. The new reiatsu filled air did not suit most of the humans, even if they had reiatsu. They had fought till the end, but even Orihime's powers couldn't save them. Tatsuki had hung on more than the two boys, but even she succumbed to the same fate.

Chad was another person he wasn't prepared to see. The last time he had seen was with Shunsui and Grimmjow, before the three had halved the Quincy numbers in a single fight. That had been two years ago for him.

On the other hand, he had mixed feelings for Uryuu. He had tried to play double agent, and had almost succeeded if it weren't for Askin Nakk Le Vaar finding it out. And in his double agenting, he had directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of more than three hundred personnel from the Gotei 14. He had mixed feeling about him. A part of him wanted to do nothing but jump out his body, and go gun blazing with Getsugatenshos and Gran Ray Ceros on Uryuu. The more rational part stated that he should knock some sense into that numbskull of his cousin.

There was something else he needed to look into. Inoue Orihime, for all her credit, wasn't cut for what was to come. In Ichigo's opinion, she was better off knowing anything about Soul Society. She needed to build up her confidence, and he hated to say it, but it had caused them a few problems. Even if she was their best healer, she had lacked the conviction with which their forces were fighting. Many times it seemed that she had dragged on just because of her crush on him. And he had never turned Orihime directly down, though he had left hints that he didn't reciprocate those feelings.

A small smile tugged his lips as he walked through the gates of the Karakura High School. His eyes surveyed around, taking in the sight of a normal high-school and not a sister school of the Shin'o Academy. He walked briskly, as he took time to see around the high school. His eyes darted around as he entered the main building, waiting for Keigo to pop up with his unusual greeting. He carefully avoided a collision with Orihime, before he sensed Keigo closing in.

"IICCHHIIGGOO!", the teen shouted as he held out a hand to get a high five. Tatsuki, Chad and Mizuiro had expected Keigo to crash into Ichigo's arm like usual. The sound of clap instead of Keigo's wailing made Tatsuki and Mizuiro snapped their heads fast enough that Chad swore he heard a few cracks. Mizuiro looked in confusion at Ichigo's grinning face as well as Keigo, who was more bewildered than all of them combined.

Snapping out of her trance, Tatsuki held her hand to Ichigo's forehead. "Are you fine Ichigo?", she asked in concern as she retracted her hand, and looked in Ichigo's eyes. 'They look old. They are older than what he had day before yesterday. Like he has lived atleast a decade or more than us'.

"What's wrong with me, Tatsuki?", Ichigo asked in confusion. "I am just glad that I have friends like you guys"

'That tone. Why does it seem like he is on the verge of crying?', Tatsuki thought with a frown.

"Oi! Oi! Oi! Ichigo! You aren't dying, are you?", Mizuiro asked in concern. Ichigo looked at him perplexed.

"No! Why would you think so?", Ichigo asked in exasperation. Mizuiro gave him a flat stare.

"I don't know if you watch movies Ichigo, but the lines you said are usually used when one of the characters is diagnosed with a terminal illness", Mizuiro supplied with a frown.

"Ah! No, don't worry, Mizuiro. I..I'm not dying", Ichigo replied awkwardly. "I needed ask some doubt to our chemistry teacher, so you can go ahead. I will join you later".

And Ichigo had darted off the next instant. Tatsuki shook her head before tugging Orihime along to their next class. When she reached their classroom, Tatsuki realized something. "Orihime, I just remembered something I need to do. I will return as soon as possible", Tatsuki said bowing apologetically, before running back to where they had met Ichigo. 'Our chemistry teacher sits in the Staffroom-II during lunch break. Ichigo went in the wrong direction'.

Five minutes of searching had been fruitless. She stopped at the end of another corridor, and yet no sign of Ichigo. She let out a sigh. "That baka! Why doesn't he tell somebody that he is hurting on the inside? He is acting the same as when Masaki-san passed away". She was about to walk away when she heard sobs and a rough voice talk.

"Ichigo. You need to calm down"

"I... I can't face them, Zangetsu. I can't"

"They are your friends, Ichigo. The same friends you longed to see alive again"

"Its different Zangetsu. I can't face Keigo and Mizuiro knowing that they die five years from now. I can't face Tatsuki, who I consider my sister because she died in my arms a year after that. I can't face Chad because he sacrificed himself to save me"

"..."

"Dammit! And I'm supposed to be the strongest Shinigami that ever existed!"

"You already what I am going to say, don't you?"

"Yes. I know you will say therapy. But, Aizen's a more bigger problem than that! If we don't-"

"Stop right there, Ichigo! Yes, you're right that Aizen right now is a bigger threat than Yhwach. But you of all the people should know it, Ichigo. You're stronger than that immoral man. Even if he gets his hands on the Hogyoku again, you are still stronger than that man"

"You're right. I... I'm overthinking this. Shiro said something about the Noveno Espada"

"Since you're a living walking version of the Hogyoku itself along with Quincy powers, you can separate the souls which the Noveno Espada has devoured. We can rescue Kaien this way. To think that he could control all the water in Seireitei with just his Shikai is very fearsome. If he achieves his Bankai, he would definitely be on the Sternritters' Special War List"

"You think that's possible?"

"Certainly"

"I don't think any Espada will take it kindly if I suddenly barge in and kill the Noveno Espada"

"Ask your father to help you, Ichigo. You may have not noticed it, but he was worried this morning. Even if nobody believes you, he will"

"I will talk to him when I am ready too"

"Just so we are clear, I will not allow you to barge in Los Naches until you have either of Shiba Isshin or Shihouin Yoruichi by your side or both"

"... Damn you, stubborn old geezer"

Ichigo wasn't sure why he felt like someone was staring at him the whole time in school. Had Aizen found about him? Did Aizen have a spy placed after him? He had tried to sense it, but his radar turned up dry other than occasional hollows, and Karin's reiatsu destroying the said hollows. He shook his head as the bell rang signaling the end of school day.

"Hey! Ichigo, you wanna hang out with us today?", Keigo asked as they exited the classroom. Ichigo thought for a few moments.

'Zangetsu is shadowing Karin and Rukia. I am definitely not having the former Captain talk with my father yet. And if I jump at Urahara Shoten suddenly, I may not be so welcomed', Ichigo thought before shrugging. "Sure. I have nothing to do today", Ichigo responded.

"I heard a truck crashed into your house yesterday night", Chad remarked. Tatsuki rose a surprised brow at Ichigo hearing that.

"Yeah. Though nobody was hurt. I arrived late because of all the cleaning which needed to take place", the teen answered waving his hand. "That actually reminds me, I need to still clean the house".

Tatsuki just waved as Ichigo bolted off in the direction of his house. 'What the hell was he talking about in the props room? He said Keigo, Mizuiro, Chad and I died. Did he have a bad nightmare? GAH! I know that baka is hiding something, and I'm going to find that out! He needs to know that he doesn't need to shoulder everything alone!', she thought with barely suppressed annoyance.

"I need to go to Orihime, Mizuiro, Keigo", Tatsuki said apologetically. "My karate belt advancement exams are around the corner".

"No worries, Arisawa-san. All of us have our own work to, unless it is Asano-san", Mizuiro piped up earning an indignant cry from Keigo.

"That's so cold, Mizuiro! We are best friends, aren't we?", Keigo cried in shock. Tatsuki shook her head as Mizuiro ignored him.

"See you tomorrow, Tatsuki-chan!", Orihime exclaimed as Tatsuki exited the building.

She walked towards Ichigo's home at a faster pace, intent on catching the teen before they reached the Kurosaki residence. She cursed at the local area. Why couldn't they have made more different streets instead of parallel ones? There was no way she could know which turns Ichigo would take on his way! She sprinted through the lanes looking around for a familiar mop of orange hair.

She tried to find him in all of the streets, before ending up on the river-side road. She bent over, using her knees as support, as she heaved from the lack of oxygen in her lungs. 'Damn you Ichigo! You bastard! Where the hell are you?!', she cursed mentally. She regained her breath for a few minutes, before dragging her feet over to the bank. 'Isn't this the place where-!' "Ichigo! Where the hell have you been?! I have been searching for you all over!"

The orange-haired teen yelped in shock as he jumped up and fell into a defensive stance, hands falling where his Zangetsus' handles should have been. He grabbed at thin air. "Tatsuki?! What are you doing here?", Ichigo asked dumbfounded.

Tatsuki rushed down the side bank, before hammering a powerful karate chop right in Ichigo's skull. "Because you're again acting like an idiot!", she shouted in annoyance with a huff. Ichigo clutched his forehead in pain, and damn did it hurt without Blut Vene and Hierro protecting his body.

"What have I done to you, Tatsuki?!", Ichigo cried in pain as he sat down.

"I have known you long enough to know when you are acting like an idiot. Back when... Masaki-san passed away, I knew you were hurting, but I didn't know how to comfort you", Tatsuki's growl shifted to softness through the sentence. "I want to help you, Ichigo".

The said boy looked at Tatsuki softly, before gazing at the continuously flowing river ahead of him. "Thank you for your concern, Tatsuki. But I am fine. Its just... yesterday we had a very close call with that truck".

Tatsuki growled at the words. "Stop lying, you moron!", she growled slowly and the words promised pain if Ichigo did that again.

"Why do you think I am lying Tatsuki?", Ichigo responded narrowing his eyes. Tatsuki closed her eyes as she controlled her anger.

"'Its different Zangetsu. I can't face Keigo and Mizuiro knowing that they die five years from now. I can't face Tatsuki, who I consider my sister because she died in my arms a year after that. I can't face Chad because he sacrificed himself to save me'. Do those words ring a bell?", Tatsuki asked matching Ichigo's glare. The widening of those brown eyes served an answer enough for Tatsuki.

"What?", Ichigo whispered in shock. 'I have been careless! Dammit! What should I tell her now?'. "How... how much did you hear?", Ichigo asked quietly, but Tatsuki understood the underlying threat which Ichigo had given.

"Everything after that. Aizen, Hogyoku, Kaien, Sternrits? Sternrouters? Uuha-baah?", Tatsuki wondered over the pronunciations. Ichigo face-palmed with a resounding sound.

"You weren't supposed to know any of this! Especially not Aizen and Hogyoku!", Ichigo panicked as he heard the names. "You don't know how dangerous that man is!"

"You worry needless...ly...?", Zangetsu exclaimed as he appeared in a sonido. And he didn't notice Tatsuki beside him until then. "Hi!", he yelped in surprise. There was no way he would forget the girl before him. He still remembered the scenery a pissed off Tatsuki had painted against the Quincy foot soldiers early in the Scrambled Dimension days. He vowed never to get on the girl's bad side. Never.

"OF ALL THE TIMES, YOU CHOOSE NOW!", Ichigo shouted in frustration. "She knows about Aizen and Hogyoku".

Zangetsu rose his brows looking between his master and the girl. "Shit...Shitshitshit!", he cursed realized the gravity of the two names.

Tatsuki on the other hand looked dumbfoundedly at the newcomer. She hadn't known Ichigo had a twin. And why in the world was his brother so pale?! "Uh... Ichigo, I didn't know you had a twin", she blurted out in shock.

Zangetsu started cackling at the words, while Ichigo buried his head in his hands in pure agony and frustration. "You may have some great humor girlie", Zangetsu remarked after calming down. "But we aren't twins. My name's Zangetsu!"

Tatsuki looked at Zangetsu with a raised brow. "Hmm. I believe you", she responded. She didn't at all believe the Ichigo look-a-like.

"He's telling the truth. I will tell my father to explain it to you some day", Ichigo remarked, before turning to Zangetsu and raising a brow.

"Just some weak hollows, nothing more. She is trying to learn the first Hado. But I have to give it to her for her reiatsu control. Much better than when you were at that stage", Zangetsu sniggered the last part before disappearing.

"Eh?! Where did he go?!", Tatsuki yelped in shock seeing Ichigo's doppelganger disappear. Ichigo waved his hand in reassurance.

"Don't worry, he went back inside my head", Ichigo said while trying his best to not laugh at Tatsuki's bewildered face. "I will explain everything. Just listen to me", Ichigo stated and got a nod in return.

And so he explained. Everything. He knew that he needed to get this of his chest. Zangetsu knew that too. The entire time he hadn't said anything, but only a small smile as Ichigo finally cracked after nineteen years of endless war and countless deaths. 'Never show your emotions as a Captain during War, Ichigo. But never become hard enough that you can't cry', Kyoraku had once said to him.

Tatsuki held Ichigo close in a hug as the orange-haired teen cried. She herself was crying. Ichigo had suffered through so much, and yet he had held strong. He didn't want to appear weak to anybody. "It's fine now Ichigo. This entire time-travel thing feels surreal, but I believe you. I also believe that this time you are going to change things. I know you will defeat that Yhwach bastard this time", Tatsuki stated firmly. She felt Ichigo nod over her shoulder. She looked at her surroundings. She still found hard time believing all this if it wasn't for Zangetsu's sudden appearance a few hours, she realized, ago. It was very dark now.

"Thanks, Tatsuki", Ichigo muttered quietly. She just smiled in return as they sat beside each other on the river bank slope.

"What are you going to do now?", Tatsuki asked as she glanced at the moon. Ichigo looked at her for a moment before watching the moon himself.

"Hmm. Zangetsu thinks we should first rescue Kaien with dad. I thinks that postponed off until Karin goes into the Soul Society with Chad, Ishida and... you", Ichigo answered causing Tatsuki to look at him in shock.

"Wha-Why me?!"

"In the original timeline, it was Orihime who got powers from the Hogyoku in Rukia's gigai. She gained reiatsu from that. Rukia has joined Karin's middle school. It won't happen again this time, Tatsuki. On the other hand, you and I have known each other for at least a decade. That much amount of time is enough for you to have your own reiatsu because of my horrible control over it in the past. Chad on the other hand is has a Fullbring. His powers didn't originate from the Hogyoku", Ichigo explained.

Tatsuki pondered over the explanation. Ichigo had raised quite good points. And from what he had told about Orihime earlier, it seemed that she really wasn't ready for the war in two years time. "Alright. I'll do that", she agreed.

"I would have liked to train you, but I think your area of specialty is Hakudo like Yoruichi-san. I am master of Zanjutsu, and at a respectable level in Kido after Soi-fon-fukutaicho's and Byakuya's training", Ichigo surmised.

"But how in the world with Yoruichi-san agree to teach me?", Tatsuki asked in confusion. She didn't know where to find the woman which Ichigo had mentioned in his stories.

Ichigo closed his eyes for a moment, racking his brain for any idea. "You can't", Ichigo started causing Tatsuki to her brow. If she can't then why to give the false hope? "Not unless you give Kisuke the shock of his entire afterlife".

"You want me to tell him that I know about Aizen and the Hogyoku in Rukia-san's gigai?", Tatsuki asked in amusement.

Ichigo nodded. "He won't call Yoruichi until then. And if he asks how did you know about Aizen and Hogyoku, tell him 'White' made a secret friend. He will understand".

Tatsuki nodded at the words. It seemed that Ichigo wanted to give Urahara Kisuke the shock of his entire afterlife in a single go. "You are picking a lot on that poor- Ichigo! Behinid you!", she screamed in fear spotting the lizard like hollow appear from a hole in the sky.

Ichigo instantly was in front of Tatsuki, his eyes narrowing at the garganta and the hollow. "Oh! It's Inoue's brother. I had forgotten that he turned into a hollow", Ichigo murmured under his breath.

"YOU! YOU! ITS BECAUSE OF YOU SHE TALKS LESS TO ME THESE DAYS!", the red hollow screamed in fury pointing at Tatsuki. Ichigo growled in his throat.

"Its time you go back into the reincarnation cycle", Ichigo replied. "Hado #63 : Raikōhō!".

Tatsuki gaped as the yellow lightning surged in a huge arc from Ichigo's hand, before crashing into the hollow and dispersing it into reishi. "That was amazing, Ichigo", she whispered in awe. Ichigo rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Thanks", he muttered. "We should be going now. It quite late now".

The man gazed at the time displayed on the clock. 'Ahh! Its our new customer! Kuchiki-san!', he thought as he walked to the front of his shop. Coming at the entrance, he rose a brow at the girl. He knew her from his little research from a few weeks ago. "What can I do for you, dear customer?", he asked dramatically as he pulled his fan out. 'What in the name of Reio is she doing here at 11.30 in the night?!', he thought slowly walking towards her.

"Are you Urahara Kisuke-san?", she asked as the man rose a brow. "I am Arisawa Tatsuki. I know about Aizen-teme and the Hogyoku".

Urahara ungraciously tripped from the shock of the words, and fell face first into the ground. 'Are shocks like these which give humans heart attacks?', he thought with a groan. He heard the crashing from behind the shop, and realized that Tessai heard it to.

"Yoruichi-san is on her way!", he heard Tessai shout as he came to the front of the shop.

And yeah, he didn't completely imagine the smirk on Arisawa Tatsuki's face. He had long month ahead of him.