Welcome back to the new chapter! This is the official end/completion for this fic, so I made a longer chapter for you all to enjoy! However, I do have several bonus chapters planned. Suggestions are welcome too.
Post zanpakto rebellion
Epilogue
(Seireitei):
Ichigo walked around, glad to see that repairs were already well underway. It helped that many of the zanpakto were also assisting with the efforts. He offered a friendly wave and some support whenever he passed by anyone he knew. It had been a few days since the battle at the park. He was going to be returning to the world of the living later today too.
A small smile appeared on his face. He'd visited the zanpaktos that he'd encountered during the rebellion over the past few days too. It had been… interesting to say the least, but nothing too crazy. Looking up to the sky, he briefly wondered how the others were faring.
(Squad thirteen barracks):
A loud, despondent wail could be heard coming from captain Ukitake's personal garden area. The reason was quite unexpected. Sode no Shirayuki was on the ground, desperately trying to get up and move. Rukia had clamped her arms around the spirit's legs, preventing her from going anywhere.
"Stop it Shirayuki!" Rukia demanded, not relenting an inch.
Her zanpakto continued struggling futilely. "Noooo! Rukia-sama, please let me go, I need Ichigo's warmth!"
The petite soul reaper grit her teeth. "Denied! You've been visited by him every day anyway, let him have some peace before he goes home! Besides, you're an ice type zanpakto!"
"Exactly!" Shirayuki whined pleadingly.
"How does that make any sense?!"
Sitting a small distance away by the edge of his koi pond, Ukitake chuckled. He soonwheezed though, courtesy of Sogyo no Kotowari jumping onto his back.
"Come on Juu-chan, play with us!" Sogyo invited cheerfully.
"Sorry boys, but I'm still tired out from earlier," he apologised weakly.
Both twins pouted. Kotowari hopped off and stood in front of his wielder. "Ichi-nii plays with us whenever he drops by." The zanpakto's other half stood next to him a moment later.
Ukitake smiled apologetically and scratched the back of his head. "Well, I'm not as young or healthy as Ichigo-kun. Why don't you just play with Sode no Shirayuki and Rukia?"
Sogyo shook his head. "Yuki-chan said she won't play unless Rukia-chan let's her go to Ichi-nii."
"I see. How unfortunate," the gentle captain laughed lightly.
(Squad five barracks):
Momo Hinamori was sat at her desk filling through some paperwork in regards to the squad repairs. Her zanpakto Tobiume had been helping, but was currently resting on a chair against the wall.
"Momo, take a break already," the kimono clad manifestation sighed.
The brown-haired soul reaper flinched in surprise before setting the papers and her pen down. "Fine. I can't take too long though, there's nobody else to fill this in."
"Why don't you try giving a few papers to the ones who are in charge of whatever's on it?" suggested Tobiume. She leaned back in her seat, twirling one end of the large ribbon wrapped around her. She glanced out the window wistfully.
Momo's eyebrows lightly furrowed. "What's wrong Tobiume?"
The zanpakto spirit waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing. I was just wondering if Ichigo would drop by today. I find his presence quite comforting, like a warm campfire."
Momo giggled and smiled teasingly. "That's right, you an Haineko wouldn't stop clinging to him when we found you in that forest." Tobiume blushed and turned her head to the side.
(Squad ten barracks):
"Captain, can I please go now?" whined Rangiku. She was sat at her desk, piles of papers before her. Her legs had been frozen to the chair in a thick shackle of ice. Her zanpakto Haineko was sat next to her, similarly bound.
Toshiro was stood to the side with Hyorinmaru, sipping some green tea. A vein bulged in his forehead. "For the last time, NO! You're not going anywhere until you finish all of it! Get drunk as much as you want later!"
"Can I go then?" Haineko asked, only to be similarly shot down.
"No as well. I don't need you causing trouble outside and making more work for me to deal with," refuted the white-haired captain. "Either help your useless master with her work, or shut up."
The cat-like zanpakto pouted. "I'm just going to look for Ichigo, I won't bother anyone else."
Toshiro maintained his stern gaze. "Still no. you have the attention span of a goldfish, so I can't trust you to not get distracted and into trouble. Also, you've hassled Ichigo enough lately, let him spend his last day here in peace."
"It's his last day?!" Rangiku shouted in alarm, somewhat startling the others. "Quick captain, there's no time to lose!"
Said captain looked at her in bewilderment. "Why, what's so important?"
"We have to throw Ichigo a party!"
An angry red tick mark manifested on Toshiro, along with a frosty aura. He sent the busty woman a dark, threatening glare. "Finish your work before I turn you into a popsicle." Both her and her zanpakto eeped and went straight to filling out the papers.
Hyorinmaru placed a hand on his master's shoulder comfortingly.
"You can take a break if you wish master," the ultimate ice zanpakto offered. "I'll keep a watch over these two."
"Thanks Hyorinmaru, but I think it's safer if I stay," he replied. "Why don't you go out instead? You can look around, or talk with Ichigo if you find him."
"I'll stay here as well. I can visit Ichigo along with you when you go to see him off."
"Very well."
(Squad two barracks):
Soi-Fon was trying to get through her paperwork in her office. Key word being trying. Her zanpakto, Suzumebachi, was sitting on her head and prodding her with her small finger.
"What do you want?" the lithe captain finally snapped.
Suzumebachi sighed in defeat. "See? This is exactly what I mean when I say that you're too uptight."
"What's your point?" asked Soi-Fon with narrowed eyes.
Her zanpakto floated off her scalp and hovered in front of her eyes. "Take a break for crying out loud! Go out and do something fun! Get a hobby of some kind already damn it! And no, stalking Yoruichi doesn't count!"
"There's no point to any of those things," stated the captain. "And admiring Yoruichi-sama is a perfectly fine hobby."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Suzumebachi muttered whilst face-palming. "Ichigo was trained by your precious master too you know, yet he's way more free-spirited and fun than you ever are."
Soi-Fon's eye twitched. "If you like him so much, then why don't you go and pester him instead?"
"Oh believe me, if you weren't my wielder I'd probably stay with him permanently."
"Enough of this foolishness. I've wasted enough time arguing with you. I need to finish this and Omeada's portion too since that fat oaf isn't competent enough."
(Squad eight barracks):
Shunsui Kyoraku was sat in the garden area, relaxing as usual. Katen was sat next to him, both of them sharing from a jug of sake and playing a small game together. Kyokotsu was a small distance away from them, doodling using a sketchbook and pencil that Ichigo had given her. Nanao was next to the younger half of his zanpakto, watching her rather skilled sketching in awe.
"Ahh, if only these peaceful times could go on forever," Kyoraku mused serenely.
Katen smirked. "It is rather pleasant. Even if you are a lazy bum, there are merits to having you as a master."
The flowery captain chuckled. "So mean. Has Ichigo-kun really left such an impression on you?"
"No," she replied smoothly, taking a sip from her cup. "He merely reinforced a growing suspicion."
"Well, I'm not as young as he is," Kyoraku countered mirthfully. "He has a real fire within himself."
Katen nodded in agreement. "True. Although, my other half seems to have become quite attached to him."
The pair turned to look at Kyokotsu. There was a happy glint in her eye, and they suspected that a smile was also present underneath her mask. The girl always looked forward to Ichigo's visits over the past few days. She seemed to particularly enjoy when he gently ruffled her hair in a brotherly manner. He was the only person who they'd ever seen her hug too, often being reluctant to let go.
Kyokotsu paused her drawing and looked to the door. After a few seconds, she returned her focus to the sketchpad, but Kyoraku and Katen could detect the slight discontent in her motion.
"My, it seems as though she was wishing for a certain substitute to arrive," remarked Katen good naturedly. "Looks like she forgot that today is his last day before he returns home."
Her master hummed in thought. "Perhaps we should take her along to see him off later. That's bound to lift her spirits and I'm sure Ichigo-kun would be happy to see her too."
(Later: Senkaimon):
The orange-haired teenager stood before the large gateway to the world of the living. He turned around, looking over sogyoku hill to the seireitei. It had been a nice stay over the past few days, but it was finally time to head back home to his family.
Ichigo felt a pair of arms encircle his neck from behind, followed soon after by the sensation of somebody hugging him. A head topped with purple hair appeared over his shoulder.
"Hey there Kyokotsu," he greeted warmly, looking into the zanpakto manifestation's lone visible eye. She closed her eye and briefly tightened her embrace before letting go and walking in front of him. A second later, Kyoraku and Katen flash-stepped into view.
"Heh heh," the senior captain chuckled. "She's been wanting to see you pretty much all day Ichigo-kun. We came along to see you off. The moment you were in sight, she bolted."
Ichigo gave a small laugh. "Really? Thanks Kyokotsu." A small dusting of red manifested on the petite spirit's face. She opened the sketchbook in her hands, presenting a pencil drawing of Ichigo wearing a warm grin and his hand atop Kyokotu's hair. "Wow, that's amazing," he praised, patting her head in congratulations. He felt a small weight land on his head.
"Hey there Ichigo!" Suzumebachi greeted. "I came to see you off before you go!"
The teenage soul reaper smirked. "Are you sure it wasn't just to roll about in my hair one last time?"
"Haha, that too~" she admitted.
He sensed a few more spiritual pressures approaching. Toshiro and Hyorinmaru, Ukitake and Sogyo no Kotowari.
"Ichi-nii!" the twins cheered and jumped at him. He gave a small yelp of surprise, but still managed to catch them.
He sighed exaggeratedly. "Geez you two, be more careful will you? And give me break too, I'm about to go home(!)"
The pair giggled. "Sorry," said Kotowari.
"We wanted to say bye before you went!" added Sogyo. Ichigo set them down and gave a quick pat to each of their small heads.
"Take care Ichigo," said Ukitake. "Thank you for helping us again too."
"It was nothing, really," the orange-haired teen assured. "You guys are my friends."
"Have a safe journey through the precipice world," said Hyorinmaru.
"Thanks, I'll try my best."
"Thanks again for getting Hyorinmaru back to me," Toshiro reiterated.
"No problem."
Ichigo was about to turn around when a white blur suddenly shot past the others and latched onto the substitute soul reaper. His arms were almost immediately pinned to his sides as his torso was encircled firmly.
"Ichigo!" squealed Sode no Shirayuki ecstatically. "I managed to see you before you went!"
The young man couldn't stop a sweat drop from forming on the side of his head. "Hey Shirayuki, it's good to see you too."
The most beautiful zanpakto in all of soul society looked up at him with watery eyes. "Please don't go, stay for a few more days."
He lightly shook his head in response. "Sorry, but I have a family to get back to. They'll get worried if I'm gone for too long, especially my younger sisters." He noticed a distinct lack of a certain midget. "By the way, where's Rukia?"
Shirayuki reluctantly released him and stepped back. "Rukia-sama is… a little stuck with something at the moment."
(Squad thirteen barracks):
Rukia struggled to break out of the ice trapping her legs and keeping her feet stuck to the ground.
(Senkaimon):
"Really? Well, that's just too bad I guess," Ichigo accepted. "Well, I'm heading off. See you guys later!" He turned around and dashed through the glowing white portal, disappearing from the group's view.
Omake:
Rukia finally escaped the ice that her own zanpakto had trapped her in, melting it through using kido (shakkaho). Growling angrily, the petite soul reaper sped off in the direction of sogyoku hill, knowing that Shirayuki had run off to go to Ichigo.
A few minutes later, when she finally arrived at the senkaimon's location, she was greeted by a rather peculiar sight. Sode no Shirayuki was bawling her eyes out while being pinned down by captain Ukitake, Kyokotsu and Hyorinmaru.
"Noooo! Let me go, please!" she begged, stretching her right hand out at the senkaimon.
"You mustn't trouble Ichigo, he deserves some rest," chided Hyorinmaru. Kyokotsu, as usual, didn't say anything but she did start pressing down on Shirayuki with more force.
Not too far off, Haineko was being similarly restrained by Rangiku, Toshiro and Sogyo no Kotowari. Opposite her, Tobiume was being gripped by Momo, Katen and Kyoraku. Both female zanpakto were demanding release, saying that they never got to see Ichigo before he left.
Rukia slumped her shoulders in defeat, a tired sigh leaving her lips. "How does Ichigo keep causing all these crazy situations?"
And Finish! I hope you all enjoyed this crazy idea of mine. The next chapter/1st bonus chap' will be featuring Ashisogi Jizo, Mayuri's zanpakto. If anyone else wants to forward an idea they have, feel free to PM me. As usual, please review!