A/N: Ulkoilla pointed out that this story takes place in the future, about 120+ years in fact, and yet it is remarkably like current time. I was asked if I would add futuristic devices and whatnot. My answer is thus; I'm not that inventive. If there is going to be any cool toys and things, I have not thought of them yet. I'm sorry if that disappoints anyone.
Also, for anyone who reads "Monologues" I would love some prompts. I'm having a bit of a block coming up with any new drabble ideas. So, if anyone can give me an idea, one word title and character preferably, I would greatly appreciate it. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Of Memories and Recollections
Uryuu had done a search on the word "arrancar" but nothing conclusive had actually presented itself. Most of it had been junk. The rest of the day had been oddly unexciting, and no interactions between the four friends and the seven new students had been made.
A general consensus had decided that they would go home to Ichigo's house, have dinner, do homework, and discuss recent events. The walk home had been strange, considering that throughout the entirety of it they had been watched by strange, floating people, something that Ichigo claimed had plagued him since childhood. "Ghosts, what are you going to do with them?" he asked rhetorically when they reached his house.
He was about to open his door when he heard a loud voice come from within the house. "… but you've only now had people come to deal with a problem that should have been resolved a century and a half ago? Isn't that a bit ridicules, Kisuke-san?" It was his mother's voice, but Ichigo didn't know whom she was talking to.
A male voice answered. "The problem was nonexistent until last night, Masaki-chan. A team of seven powerful Shinigami have been sent to deal with the problem."
"And what if the problem is larger than all this?" his mother demanded.
"If worse comes to worse," the man answered slowly, "we will merely train your son and his friends again."
"Listen to yourself, Kisuke-san! My son and his friends were in the first War, and look at what happened to them! I'm not going to let you ruin their lives again!"
"You would sacrifice so many for the happiness of so few? Don't you realize how selfish that is?" A different voice asked.
His mother gave a soft sob. "That's irrelevant," she said. "Don't make me choose."
Ichigo growled and pushed the door open on the scene. His mother sat at a table with a strange man wearing a white and green hat. He looked oddly familiar, but Ichigo couldn't quite put his finger-
"You're the man from my dream!" he suddenly shouted in surprise as his eyes widened.
The man blinked at him. "Wha-"
"Is this guy bothering you, Mom?" Ichigo asked, turning to face her.
Masaki shook her head. "No, Ichigo. I think Urahara-san and Yoruichi-san were just about to leave, weren't you?"
The man nodded, and picked up the cat from the table. It had been looking at him strangely for a cat, and Ichigo had to wonder if it was frowning. "Consider what I said closely, Masaki-chan," the man said. "Good day Kurosaki-kun, Inoue-chan, Ishida-kun, Kuchiki-chan."
And then he was gone.
Ichigo stared at his mother. "Who was that?" he asked.
Masaki gave her son a weak smile. "Just an old friend of your father's," she told him.
"He knew dad?"
"Yes." She changed topics abruptly. "So, hello Uryuu-kun, Orihime-chan, Rukia-chan. How are the three of you?"
Ichigo let his mind wander as his mother made small talk with his friends. It had been the same man as in his dream, but how had his mother known him? And, did he know who his father was? It was a question his mother refused to answer.
"…Ichigo?"
He turned. "Huh?"
"I asked what you wanted for dinner, dear," his mother repeated.
"Oh," he shrugged, "doesn't matter."
Masaki gave her son a strange look. "Alright. Why don't the three of you go up to Ichigo's room to do your homework?" she suggested.
He nodded and the four of them trooped upstairs.
A few hours later, after dinner, and homework had been finished, and they had spent a good amount of time talking, the four of them had fallen asleep unceremoniously, sprawled over Ichigo's room.
The minute Ichigo had fallen asleep, he had immediately found himself in the strange would where he had first encountered the strange man with the glasses and cape and his white almost-twin.
He blinked at them. "Why am I here?" he asked.
The glasses guy looked at him evenly. "Powers are rising that have been for a long time been silent," he told Ichigo. "You played an important part in squashing them once before, and it is up to you and your friends to, once again, assist in their defeat."
Ichigo stared at him. "Huh?"
"Well King, Quincy-boy wasn't far off with all tha' reincarnation shit. Tha's what we're going 'ta do. Restore yer memories," the white one answered.
"My…what?"
Neither of them answered.
Ichigo knew why right away. The world went dark on him for a split second. Then sounds, colors, sights, smells, tastes, feelings, and memories in general assaulted him.
It lasted for what Ichigo thought was years, and then it was over. When he opened his eyes he was on his knees, panting and swearing. He looked up and in front of him. He saw Zangetsu first. "Zangetsu," he greeted. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Yay! Ya got yer memories back, King!" Hichigo said happily.
Ichigo's eyes widened. "Damn it!" he shouted in surprise, pointing at the Hichigo. "I had forgotten about you."
The Hollow grinned at him. "Aww, but King, we get along so well."
Ichigo glared at him. "What do you want?" he demanded.
"Dunno," he grinned. "Can I kill something?" he asked.
Ichigo scowled. "No."
"But Kiiing…."
Zangetsu looked at Ichigo. "Your friends and mother are worried. I'd suggest you wake up."
Ichigo nodded, and then was gone.
Ichigo blinked as he opened his eyes and groaned, shutting them again. His head was pounding.
"Stupid Strawberry. You can't handle seventeen years worth of memories? Try 150 plus."
Ichigo opened one eye to look at Rukia. His mother, Orihime, and Uryuu were all staring at her. "You remember?" he croaked.
Rukia gave him a sardonic smile. "Shirayuki took pleasure in making it painful and especially difficult, but yes."
Ichigo grimaced. "Zangetsu was okay, but Hichigo was a pleasure to see," he groaned.
"Poor you," Rukia growled sarcastically.
Finally Uryuu got frustrated enough to both shout and swear. "What the hell are you both talking about?" he demanded.
Both of the former Shinigami looked at him. "You guys don't remember?" Ichigo asked in surprise.
"Remember what, Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked.
Ichigo and Rukia shared a look. "This is going to take a long, long time."
Masaki looked at her son sadly. "You remember everything?" she asked softly.
Ichigo's eyes went wide, as if he had only just realized she was in the room. "Mom," he whispered. In five steps he had crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"Kurosaki," Ishida said, "you're acting really weird."
"Ichigo," he mother said softly, "we'll talk later. Explain what's going on to your friends." She kissed his cheek and left the room.
Uryuu frowned but Rukia leered. "Gotta give Mommy a kiss?" she asked.
Ichigo glared at her. "What the hell is your problem all of a sudden, bitch?"
Rukia walked over to him very slowly, as if each step was painful. She stood in front of him for a moment, then swung her fist and knocked him upside the head. She turned, and walked back to his bed, where she dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her temples. "That helped a little," she growled.
"Rukia-chan, why did you hit Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked.
Rukia groaned a little. "For getting killed, and because I have a headache," she answered almost inaudibly.
Ichigo frowned and Orihime and Uryuu looked confused but the topic managed to be dropped.
"Now," Ishida said slowly. "Will someone tell us what you both are talking about?"
Ichigo sighed. "You guys best sit down," he suggested.
They did so, and Ichigo launched into an explanation. He told them first what Shinigami, Hollows, the Quincy, and Arrancar were. Then he told them about the raid on the Seireitei to save Rukia, and about Aizen, Gin and Tousen's betrayal. And then he told them about the War and about the battle that had cost them their lives.
When he was finished, they were both staring at him. "That was either the best told story or the strangest truth I've ever heard," Uryuu said after a minute.
"It's the truth," Rukia sighed. "Ichigo and I are Shinigami. Uryuu-kun you are a Quincy, and Inoue you have special powers."
Orihime nodded, but her face still held a little bit of confusion. "Then that man that was here earlier…"
"Was Urahara Kisuke."
"He was the one from my dream with the lady cat. She hit him with his own fan!"
Ichigo and Rukia shared a look and started laughing. "I can see that!" he chuckled.
The ice had been broken and the four began discussing their past that had suddenly been shown to them.
The seven Shinigami entered Urahara's Shouten after school. All of them were exhausted, and none of them very happy.
Urahara was sitting at a table when they got there, drinking sake. He and Yoruichi had accompanied them back to the Real World, and now they were living in the old store that had stayed under the safe watch of Tessai, Jinta and Ururu for nearly 130 years.
Yoruichi was sitting on the Twelfths Division Captain's lap, as the man petted her. "Why the long faces?" he asked.
The Shinigami took seats around the table. "Did you know Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime and Ishida were reincarnated?" Tatsuki asked.
The Captain nodded. "I've heard a rumor or two," he answered.
"And you didn't tell us?!" Renji demanded.
"I felt there was no need," he told them.
"And why not!?" Hitsugaya shouted.
Urahara shrugged. "I did not feel it was of any consequence," he replied.
"Well," Matsumoto said, putting a hand on her irate Captain's shoulder, "it would have been nice to have known ahead of time."
"I'll keep it in mind for next time," he told her, with a chuckle.
"Next time?" Ikkaku asked.
Urahara shrugged. "You never know."
A Hollow's reiatsu suddenly appeared nearby. A groan rose from the table. "You'd best get that," Urahara suggested.
"I will do it," Chad told them all, he disappeared from the room.
Urahara looked at the Shinigami still seated around the table. "Do any of you have homework due for tomorrow?" he asked happily.
He became the recipient of six glares.
End Chapter 4: Of Memories and RecollectionsA/N: I was typing it and changed the entire end, and decided on what I wanted to happen in chapter 5! You may not have to wait as long as I first thought. I hope the chapter was all right. Review!
