"Bound By Destiny"
Chapter 1- "Back in the World"
By- Tiny
The morning sun peaked high on the horizon as Ichigo's alarm clock began to buzz wildly, bringing him about from the previous nights sleep just in time to avoid a foot flying for the side of his head. It didn't hit, as Ichigo was able to duck down under the attack and send the moron who had dared to try it across the floor, skidding to a stop on the other side of the room. This caused the other futon nearby to shake and knock it's inhabitant on the floor as well, while Ichigo's father, the attacker, cursed his son for being so alert in the mornings.
Ichigo's new roommate was a taller young man with large muscles and a rather firm jaw, his dark hair a bit of a mess as he crawled up out of the bed mumbling about 'Kurosaki's dumb ass father'. The roommate was none other than the lower noble Shiba Ganju, who had traveled the length of the Sereitei with Ichigo and been badly injured in the process. Knowing he needed a place to stay, and posing as an exchange student who had nowhere to live at, Ganju had taken it upon himself to force Ichigo into bringing him to his house.
Isshin hadn't seemed to mind all that much, and had in fact seemed quite tickled at the prospect of having another young man in the house, though it later turned out that this was so he could ambush both his 'sons' in the morning. Karin and Yuzu were relatively indifferent to the newest member of their household, though Yuzu was much too preoccupied with the loss of her stuffed animal, Bostov. Ichigo didn't have the heart to tell her that Urahara had taken "Bostov" down to his shop for some work, though the orange-haired shinigami didn't really know what work that might be.
"Why does the old man feel the need to ambush us every single day, when we get up and when we come home?" Ganju growled, tying his bandana to his head, "It's like living in a cheesy kung-fu movie!"
"He's just like that, you get used to it after a while," Ichigo shrugged, pulling out his school uniform, "You need to get dressed, we have to meet everyone else before we go to school."
"I don't see why I have to go to school with you, I was educated thoroughly when I was in Rukongai," Ganju mumbled, putting on the shirt and gray pants, "This crap that you study I did almost a hundred years ago!"
"Get over it, you have to stay with me and the others just in case," Ichigo chuckled, "Besides, you have to help me track down this former taicho that Yamamoto-sama told me about for my training."
"Other than Kisuke and Yoruichi I don't think any other former taicho would be that stupid to hang out around here," Ganju rolled his eyes, "Especially not one that Yamamoto said Sereitei considers to be especially dangerous, almost as much as Aizen or his followers."
"I doubt it could get that bad," Ichigo gulped, heading to the front door to get his shoes on, "Dad, we're heading out now!"
"Be back at seven, or you're a dead man!" Isshin snapped, "You aren't grown enough that I can't still whoop you!"
Ichigo didn't even grace his father with a response as the two young men went out of the building and into the streets, disappearing around the corner of the Kurosaki Clinic as they walked to school. Isshin waited until then to recline back at the table where they usually at breakfast, his normally goofy and jovial face darkening as he sipped at the tea Yuzu had made earlier. Nobody ever saw him like this, not even his wife had ever seen this side of the dark-haired doctor, or at least that's what he thought as the backdoor opened and a new figure walked in.
It was a young man, probably no older than his early twenties, with shaggy looking black hair and green eyes, his face a permanent grin that looked almost eerily like that of Ichigo. He was dressed plainly for someone who by all means should have been going to school somewhere, wearing a pair of worn out old jeans and a white t-shirt with black sneakers on his feet. Isshin knew who this man was, the representative of his old friend in the downtown district that had been coming around a lot lately, and seeing him here now meant bad news.
"Yoruichi-sensei and Urahara wish to see you, Kurosaki," the man spoke, his smirk turning to a scowl, "Aizen is about to make his move and we need to consolidate our strength now."
"My son is seeking me out for training, it will become harder and harder to avoid the confrontation between us," Isshin sighed, rising to his feet, "Does Kisuke think he can keep Ichigo occupied just a bit longer, Kon?"
"Out of the question, we have bigger fish to fry Kurosaki, your son finding out who you really are does not concern us," Kon, the former lion plush doll, spoke, "He needs to be ready; my sensei and Urahara have already taught him all they can, he needs to be trained by someone who can teach him to control his powers: you."
"Whatever, I just...was hoping to avoid this for a while longer," Isshin shook his head, sliding into his shoes, "Let's go Kon, I want to get this meeting over with before we have to open the clinic..."
Ichigo was sort of in a daze as he walked down the alleyways with Ganju, heading for the school neither of them wanted to be at, so much so that he almost didn't notice as he bumped into a rather large figure. The young man before him was easily over 6 foot tall, his skin very dark with long, curly locks of black hair that came down over his face, keeping his left eye covered. Next to him was a much smaller figure, that of a rather busty auburn-haired girl who seemed to go crazy after Ichigo fell down, causing Ganju to snicker loudly.
While Ichigo tried to compose himself, the enigmatic Uryu and the typically dimwitted Nemu began to meet up with the rest of the group, though how Nemu got separated from Orihime was confusing. As Orihime had no family or others to question who stayed with her, it had been decided that her place was the best home for Nemu while she was in the human world. It had been a perfect fit, as the two similarly scatterbrained girls hit it off perfectly and made quite the pair, though Nemu still seemed to prefer the company of Uryu to anyone else.
Uryu hadn't spoken much to anyone lately, having recently moved back in with his father at the hospital nearer to the business district, though why he had suddenly changed his mind about moving in was confusing. From what Ichigo had been able to gather during their talks before coming home, Uryu and his father had conflicting views on being a Quincy and that had caused the split in the first place. Now that he was without his powers Ichigo figured that maybe the conflict was gone, but you couldn't tell it by the look on the bespectacled youth's face.
"Looks like your not paying much attention today Ichigo, we don't want you all dirty for our first day at school," Ganju laughed on, "The girls might not like you if you look like you've been wallowing in the mud all morning."
"Stuff it, you ugly gorilla," Ichigo growled, dusting himself off, "Well, everyone's here, so now we can go on to school. Nemu, any luck on tracking down that ex-taicho Yamamoto-sama told me about?"
"No luck Ichigo, the former taicho of 6th unit remains elusive as ever," Nemu shook her head, "Urahara said that he'd 'turn up' when he felt like it. What does it mean that he'll 'turn up'?"
"It means he's going to show himself, Nemu."
"He's going to what?" Nemu gasped, blushing slightly under her eyes, "In front of GIRLS? What kind of a pervert..."
"That's not what he meant Nemu, he means that the taicho will appear to us when he feels like it," Uryu stopped the shinigami's train of thought, "But for now, we need to worry about getting to school before our teacher notices we aren't there."
"Good point, let's go everyone!" Ichigo nodded, starting to run down the alleyways, "Last one there buys lunch!"
Urahara's shop was as barren as ever as Isshin walked in and sat down at the former taicho's table, his escort Kon sitting down next to him as the other guests showed up for the meeting. The first of the three was Urahara himself, wearing his typical dark clothing and stripped bucket hat, holding on to his cane like an old geezer as he sat down across from Isshin. The two had known each other for many long years, ever since they left the Sereitei after the discovery of the Orb of Distortion, yet it never amazed him how serious the normally flamboyant man could be.
The next one coming in was a dark-skinned woman with purplish hair and yellow, cat-like eyes that seemed to peer into the very soul, decked out in very simple house clothes as she sat next to Kisuke. This woman was Yoruichi, the master of flash steps and Hakudo hand-to-hand combat, not to mention the former taicho of 2nd unit and head of the special forces. She had trained many shinigami and others over the years, including the new taicho of 2nd unit, Kurosaki Ichigo, and most recently Kon and a young girl who had come to the shop expressly begging for Yoruichi's training.
The third and final person to enter the room was a bit of a shock to Isshin, as he hadn't seen his old friend for quite a few years, yet now here he was taking a seat between Yoruichi and Kon. He was a distinguished looking man in a white blazer with a white tie bearing blue crosses on it, his hair hanging down over bespectacled eyes in pale white bangs. This man was the head of Karakura Town's central hospital, Ryuken Ishida, considered after the loss of his son's powers to be the last Quincy, though why he was associating with his "enemy" was curious.
"Friends, we are here today to discuss some intelligence that has come to our mutual attention," Kisuke began, "After having our scout, Kon, do some reconnaissance work for us, we've noticed an increasing presence of Menos in the area. We believe Aizen to be sending them out to gather information on our fighters, but I want input from everyone who stands to lose in this war. Anything to add?"
"My son was recently attacked by a combined kind of Menos, calling itself an 'Arrancar' created by 'Aizen-sama'," Ryuken spoke up, "I was able to save him and have taken him home for more training, but the appearance of such a creature has prompted me to take precautions around the hospital. The walls are being reinforced as we speak with steel and glass that blocks the sensing of spiritual pressure; I would advise Kurosaki to do the same with his clinic."
"I have no need to, my children may not understand me, but we are close and they have nothing to fear from Hollows or these Arrancar of Aizen's," Isshin growled, scratching his beard, "If they should attempt an attack on my home or threaten my children, Ichigo, Ganju, or myself will be able to take them!"
"You don't know that Kurosaki!" Yoruichi snapped, her eyes flaring wildly, "We have no idea how powerful these things are; Ryuken has experience that none of the children have, as do all of us. That can make all the difference in a battle against someone as powerful and crafty as Aizen."
"Yoruichi is right, let us not jump to conclusions without any real examples of our enemies strength," Kisuke agreed, "Best to take precautions while we can, before we regret taking no action at all. Out of all of us, Ichigo has the greatest untapped potential and we cannot afford to jeopardize his safety or allow him to slack off in his training as a shinigami."
"Kisuke, your my oldest friend, and I've allowed you to do as you please with my son thus far," Isshin gulped, "But please, don't tell me you want me to..."
"As of now, you are to begin training Ichigo, as well as Ganju, so that they will be better able to access and control their strength," Kisuke nodded, smiling stupidly, "There is little more I can teach your son that he doesn't already know, and Yoruichi is already taking on two students of her own. You are the only one left who not only has the power to train these two, but who has the experience necessary to prepare them for the war that is coming. Isshin, you have no choice."
"Then so be it, I'll train the boys to control themselves, but what are you going to do Kisuke?" Isshin sighed, rising to his feet, "Who are you going to be preparing for this 'war' your expecting?"
"I've already been approached by one person, your son's best friend," Kisuke grinned, disappearing into his shop, "As for the other, I never did meet Mayuri's daughter...perhaps it's time I paid her a visit..."
There was a chill in the air as two large figures approached a man sitting high on a throne, playing with his long brown hair with two other figures standing at his side, almost like sentries. The three men were none other than the criminal ex-taicho's; Sosuke Aizen, Kaname Tosen, and Gin Ichimaru; all three of them extremely powerful and confident in their abilities. It was there subordinates who stood now before the two men, their heads bowed in submission as the got to the base of the throne, not raising their eyes to even glance into their leader's eyes.
The larger of the two men was nearly twice the size of his fellow, decked out in robes that looked almost like a mixture of the standard shinigami robes and the Quincy uniform, as they were white on black. He had a sword that was clearly visible tucked into his sash, his scalp barren except for the back of his neck where there was a black ponytail and thick sideburns over his ears. He also appeared to have some very dark ridges on the top of his scalp, with what appeared to be a jawbone just at the base of his throat, almost like a hollow mask.
The other figure was far more slender and small than his muscular counterpart, but the way that he carried himself when he moved was very much like a distinguished gentleman from the old country. His hair was dark black and hung down over his pale skin in silky, yet unkempt, locks while his green eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness that permeated the very atmosphere. His sword was also clearly visible down at his waist, though it was far longer than his companions, his head halfway covered by a broken skull helmet that resembled a beetle's head.
"The two of you are here because it has come to my attention that the place with the most spiritual pressure in the human world is Karakura Town," Aizen spoke up, resting on his palm, "Our goal is to extract as much power as we can from this town so we can gain access to where the king is located. You two are to conduct reconnaissance, see if there is anyone who can oppose us, and kill any who try to stop you. Understood?"
"It is as you wish, Aizen-sama!"
"Then go forth, and let us make our dreams reality," Aizen laughed, "And then, I alone will sit atop the world where even angels fear to tread..."
Author's Notes: Alright, trying to make sure that he chapters are a bit longer than most of my other stories, but I feel I got a good amount of information into this one. I wanted to lean in a bit more with Chad and Orihime, but I guess that'll have to wait until the next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed it and will review for me in bigger mass this time!
The next chapter will focus as two complete Arrancar enter the human world and begin their assault on Karakura Town, starting with Tatsuki and her mysterious companion, a dark-haired stranger who seems to have a few tricks up his sleeve. And what's this, Nemu can perform shikai? All this, plus Ichigo finally learns the identity of the former taicho he's been searching for: his father. Stay tuned!!!