Yo, I got this idea after playing through the remastered version of Crisis Core. If you haven't already, please play the game. It's incredible. Obviously there's spoilers for Crisis Core, FF7, and Bleach so if you don't want to be spoiled, I'd suggest not reading this yet. Also, big shoutout to Fredward over in the server for his help with ideas for this.

Also, an important note for anyone following 'Unexpected Visit'. The new chapter is finished, however, my co-writer/beta is currently dealing with real life stuff so until he's back the updates will have to wait. I don't want to rush him as real life will always be prioritized. Just know the new chapter is awaiting revision and chapter 13 is already being worked on.

With that out of the way, as always feel free to join the discord server to hang out, talk fics, or just bullshit with some cool people. Link down below.

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Ichigo's arms were screaming in pain. He had no idea how long the battle against Yhwach had been going on for. Even with his newfound strength the Shinigami was still at a disadvantage. The Quincy King was powerful enough on his own with the Almighty, but with the added power of the Soul King he had become something much worse. Everything they threw at him, he had a counter for. Even as Aizen joined the battle and worked alongside him, they were still struggling.

Panting in exhaustion, Ichigo forced his arms up once more, raising his Zanpakuto high above his head. It was difficult with only his right arm, but he still managed. The blade began to glow with barely restrained power as Ichigo channeled everything he could into it. His eyes followed Aizen's movements as he continued to battle with Yhwach. As much as he'd like to swing and destroy everything in their general vicinity, he couldn't risk taking Aizen out. If something were to go wrong and Yhwach survived, it was over.

Aizen peered in his direction and with a simple glance understood the plan. Kyoka Suigetsu clashed with Yhwach and just as the treacherous Shinigami was pushed back, Ichigo saw his opportunity to strike.

"Getsuga Tenshou!" He yelled as he swung downward.

The multiple white and red eyes that adorned Yhwach's upper face and back began to glow ominously. The red iris' all turned to stare in Ichigo's direction which unnerved him slightly. The glow intensified as the black wave approached the King and just as the attack was about to connect, it dissipated as if it were nothing more than an academy student's attempt at Kido.

The brief moment of stillness was broken a second later as Aizen cast Hado #99, conjuring five large dragons all set to attack the King. Not wasting a moment, Aizen launched forward only for Yhwach to smile sinisterly and reveal that he'd already broken Kyoka Suigetsu's blade.

Ichigo grit his teeth in anger, remembering how the man's second in command had shattered his Bankai the first time they met. To his knowledge however, Aizen only had Shikai and the blade wasn't completely destroyed. Even as he watched the temporary ally be sent away by a palm thrust, Ichigo knew he couldn't be still. The man had created an opening for him.

Tightening his grip on Zangetsu, Ichigo dashed onward.

"Don't bother." Yhwach said in a calm tone. "I see that too. Ichigo."

Ichigo's eyes widened as the King effortlessly caught his blade with an open hand and grinned at the look on his face. Yhwach's hand clenched tightly against the steel he was holding, causing cracks to appear in the metal. The cracks in the blade began to travel outward as more pressure was applied.

"You did well reading the situation and instantly shifting to fight alongside Aizen Sosuke. But not even Kyoka Suigetsu is a match for my power. I see it all." He declared. His left hand released his hold on the Zanpakuto and in that instant, the blade shattered once again.

"It's over! Ichigo!" The orange haired substitute watched on in dread as Yhwach's hand stretched out and connected with his chest. A powerful blast was let off in point blank distance, creating a large circular hole in his chest. Blood began to flow out of his mouth as the hand pierced him and stayed buried within to keep him just above eye level with the king.

"Fair well, Ichigo." Yhwach said in a smooth tone. "Your resistance was soothing. You can at least perish with the Soul Society."

As the words left his mouth, large pillars of black energy began to fly upward out of the ground. The rubble which was already present due to the battle was destroyed further and large red eyes formed within the blackness of the attack. It was as if the man was exerting himself all over the area.

"I see." Ichigo said in a tone that was far too calm for the situation he was currently in. "So I appear to you as Ichigo Kurosaki."

Yhwach was momentarily caught off guard as Ichigo was replaced with Aizen. The man was holding onto the King's left arm with his remaining good hand but was still smirking at him, clearly relishing at the fact that he had managed to bypass the Almighty.

Still caught up with what was happening, Yhwach didn't react to Ichigo as he thrust Zangetsu forward. The large blade which was perfectly intact exited from the man's chest with blood coating the fine steel.

Yhwach turned around to see Ichigo's staring at him with all the anger he could muster and with two words, he attacked.

"Getsuga Tenshou!" With a mighty swing, Ichigo sliced the man diagonally, unknowingly ending the man in a similar manner in which he ended Yamamoto. The large black blast flew upward toward the sky, tearing apart the few buildings it still came in contact with.

The upper half of Yhwach remained in place and slowly turned around to face the substitute. Ichigo stared back with no fear now that the man had moments to live. Yhwach said nothing, simply staring at him until his body disappeared and the black substance that had coated his body was all that was left.

Looking down at the flat eyes that still seemed to move around, Ichigo took a deep breath. It was over.

"Not bad." Ichigo turned to see Aizen making his way over to him. He didn't seem bothered by the hole in his chest or the missing left arm. His single uncovered eye was staring at Ichigo critically as he began to explain how he'd done a good job reacting to Kyoka Suigetsu. Ichigo had known there was something different the moment he'd arrived and had felt the similarities to when he'd first fought the man two years ago.

"I didn't think keeping Kyoka Suigetsu's release hidden from you would come in handy like this." He finished. The two stood in silence, contemplating the battle that had just finished. The only sound that could be heard was that of the soft breeze that passed between them and only then was Ichigo aware of the wounds he'd sustained.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." Aizen began only to freeze as the black substance erupted outward and captured the man.

"Aizen!" Ichigo yelled in alarm. The substance below began to expand along the ground, the eyes once again glowing red.

"You've undone Kyoka Suigetsu's effect." Ichigo heard Yhwach speak from inside the darkness. "Was it overconfidence, or lack of power?" He questioned before addressing the substitute once more. "Hey, Ichigo. Did you think you could kill me with something like that?" The King questioned.

From below, the darkness began to rise and take the familiar shape of Yhwach once again. "My power alters the future!" he yelled out. Only his teeth were visible from the darkness but Ichigo could still see the malicious grin on his face.

"I can rewrite the future in which I die!" He added as Ichigo began to rush forward. "Don't bother."

Zangetsu was forcefully ripped out of his right hand and embedded into the ground. Ichigo grit his teeth and attempted to change directions in order to retrieve it but it was no use. The darkness had begun to spread and before he could react, Ichigo found himself surrounded just as Aizen had been. The pain he felt was immeasurable, it was as if his body was being destroyed from the inside out.

Ichigo's vision was beginning to blur as the darkness began to consume his left side. Slowly, it crawled across his skin sending waves of pain coursing through him. For a moment, he didn't know what was happening, all he could hear was the madman going on about his power until everything suddenly stopped.

"Uryu." Ichigo muttered when he was able to turn his head.

White lines began to appear across Yhwach's chest and the darkness that had once surrounded Ichigo weakened until he was free.

"Now Kurosaki!" Uryu yelled desperately.

Ichigo grabbed Zangetsu and swung with all his might. Yhwach however was far from being finished. Like last time, his arm stretched out and caught the blade before destroying most of it, only this time he wasn't able to do it completely. With his power still halted, Ichigo was able to cut through the King's hand and then across his upper body once again.

Yhwach turned his head around in order to stare at Ichigo who was looking back at him with a face of indifference.

"You haven't won yet…" He muttered as blood began to pour out of his mouth.

Ichigo frowned at the man's words. His power was gone and his spiritual pressure was wavering, what could he possibly do now? He received his answer moments later as his reiatsu skyrocketed and blue lines reminiscent of Blut Vene began to spread across his body.

"Get away from there Kurosaki!" Uryu yelled. Everyone in the general area began to run as they knew this would be a final ditch effort by the King. Yhwach smirked even though he had once again lost but he wouldn't be going down without taking someone with him.

His instincts screamed at him to escape and before he realized what he was doing, his arm had swiped across the area in front of him. A black line formed in the space in front of him, with smaller vertical lines stretching out of the first horizontal one. A high pitched wail rang out as the lines separated and created a large black opening in the space in front of him. Had the situation not been so dire, he would have taken a moment to appreciate the first Garganta he'd managed to create.

He stepped inside but wasn't able to go further as a large explosion rocked both the Soul Society and the dark void he'd stepped into.

"Your victory won't be without cost. You will never see your loved ones again, my son born in the dark." Ichigo heard within his mind. Whatever the could mean would be forever lost on him as he began to feel his body lighten. Looking down, he saw that his body was beginning to steam like water being boiled, but it didn't hurt at all. In a way it felt soothing, like a warmth spreading through his body letting him know things would be alright.

That didn't stop the panic completely however. Bright green lines began to trace his body the way Blut Vene traced the veins of the Quincies. Slowly, they crawled up his legs, chest, arms, and neck until they reached his head. Once he was completely covered, the lines thickened until his body was slowly taken over by the green light. The glow illuminated the darkness and slowly, Ichigo's sight began to fail as the light spread.

Extending an arm outward in an attempt to escape, he watched in fear as his arm disintegrated into small particles of green light.

"No no no..dad, Karin, Yuzu…" He thought before his vision faded and the rest of his body faded into particles of light. The particles connected together until they formed long strands of light and bundled together. Then, like the smoke of a candle being put out, the light floated upward and disappeared.

xxxx

My son born in the dark

Brown eyes snapped open as a ray of light shined through the blinds in his room.

"That same voice again." A young man muttered to himself. Since he could remember he would hear that voice whenever he was in deep sleep. He didn't know where it came from, who it was, or why he heard it but he chalked it up to his mind just messing with him. He didn't know who's son he was supposed to be but nothing in his daily life had changed to make him look into it further.

The sound of birds chirping outside his window was loud enough for him to groan in annoyance. Bringing his pillow over his head, he covered his face in an attempt to block out both the sun and the annoying song the birds were singing, but it didn't work.

"Why haven't I left Mideel yet?" Ichigo asked himself as he tossed the covers off his body and rolled over into a sitting position. Taking a moment to let the sleepiness leave his system, he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths in preparation for the day. Chances were that it would be the same as the previous day but he could hope for something different.

Opening his eyes, he stood up and walked across the wooden floor of his small apartment. Opening the window completely, he stared at the sight before him and exhaled. By all accounts he supposed he was lucky to live in Mideel. The hot springs in this town were amazing and attracted tourists from all over but it got boring quickly.

"Good morning Ichigo!" He heard from below. "How was your night?"

The orange haired man glanced down at his elderly neighbor who was seemingly enjoying a morning walk.

"Morning." He replied with much less enthusiasm than the man. "Just another night. Nothing special."

The older man shook his head. "I'm telling you, Ichigo, you should take a vacation. Go see the world a little. I'm sure there's plenty of good looking ladies out there." He teased.

Ichigo smirked. Most of the men told him he was wasting his time in Mideel. He was young, only twenty three years old and according to most people, doing jobs around the area wouldn't net him enough money to really live well.

"Maybe I'll actually take your advice one of these days. Any recommendations?" He asked.

"Costa del Sol." The man replied immediately. "Beautiful view, beautiful women, good food, good times."

Ichigo knew the man was speaking from experience if the wistful look on his face was any indication. Still, it did sound rather nice. Maybe it would be good to head out for a while, maybe take his mercenary work elsewhere where people were a little more well off.

"We'll see how things go. Maybe I'll check it out one of these days." He replied before pushing off the windowsill.

Making his way to the bathroom, he took a quick shower and prepared himself for the day. He hoped there was something exciting to do. There had been sightings of a few monsters near the coast and some of the locals were beginning to feel worried. Not only for their own safety but because this was something that could affect business. The hot springs were what brought people in, and if no one came, their small economy was in trouble.

When he was completely dry, he picked up some form fitting black pants and a dark blue t-shirt along with some black shoes. It wasn't much in terms of the protection it offered but he hadn't come across anyone or anything that had come close to harming him. Next he picked up two metal arm braces that had two circular slots on the upper portion in which colored orbs were fitted.

Ichigo glanced around the room and reached out for the blade that was leaning against the wall next to his bed but stopped just before coming in contact with the handle.

"Oh right. The new one is already done." Giving the blade an appreciative glance, he nodded. It had done its job well, but the quality of the metal could only do so much. No matter how much he sharpened it, the blade would dull quickly. That was why he'd had another made from special metal imported from Midgar. It had been sold to him at a premium but it would be worth it.

Once he was all set, he made his way out of his place and into the dense woods that surrounded the building. Being careful not to step on any of the blooming flowers that were sprouting from the ground, Ichigo continued on until he finally made it to the old wooden bridge that led into the main part of the town.

Waving to some of the kids and adults who passed by him as he crossed, he made a hard right as soon as he crossed the bridge and climbed up a set of wooden stairs that led to some small shops. Taking yet another right, he was greeted with the sight of the local weapons shop though what really caught most people's eyes were the two canons that were stationed outside.

The owner claimed they were real cannons used during the Wutai war but Ichigo had already seen the engravings within the barrels that read 'reproduction piece'. It was no wonder they had yet to sell.

Stepping through the large doors, his eyes gazed across the many weapons that littered the walls of the shop. Swords of different sizes adorned the shop, with blades that were thin to some that were too wide to be productive. Ichigo stopped momentarily, letting his eyes focus on the few Wutain weapons that had recently been added. Unlike most of the inventory, these actually looked well done.

"Ichigo." The owner greeted. "I see you've noticed the shuriken that has been added. Interested? I'll give you a good deal."

The orange haired man scoffed and shook his head. "You wish old man. I was just curious, that's all. Do you have it done?" He asked, referring to his weapon.

The older man nodded enthusiastically and ordered him to stay put before heading to the back. The sound of rustling items could be heard until he returned with a long rectangular box. His lips began to curl upward at the sight. He had waited a few months for it to be ready and it was finally in front of him.

Undoing the latches that kept it sealed, the shop owner opened it, revealing a finely crafted katana. Unlike traditional ones that many wutain's carried, or even some carried by SOLDIERs, the blade was black and elongated far beyond the traditional length. The handle was also extended and featured three slots near the base for materia.

Noticing the shop owner motioning him to the sword, Ichigo grabbed the handle and smiled. There was no other way to explain it other than it felt right in his hand. As strange as it sounded, it felt like he was complete now. The only difference between this and his last weapon was the obvious increase in quality but there was something more that he couldn't quite pinpoint.

"So what do you think?" The owner asked with a big grin on his face. That sword was arguably his finest work. It had taken a while to make and it was a delicate project that required incredible finesse but it had come out better than he imagined. Seeing the young man examine it with an approving look on his face made it all worth it.

"It's perfect." Ichigo responded, swinging three times in rapid succession. The blade easily cut through the air and despite the much longer blade, it didn't seem to hold Ichigo back whatsoever. "It's just missing one thing." He said, staring at the empty materia slots.

Before the shop owner could ask what, Ichigo reached into his pockets and pulled out three colored orbs. The first was a green colored elemental materia, this one being gravity based. He carefully slipped it into the upper most slot and gave a small smile as the orb gave off a bright green glow. The next was a yellow colored command materia that allowed him a specific move with his weapon. It was because of this very materia that he was forced to commission a custom weapon. The last one shattered after letting the attack off.

Finally, there was a light purple orb that by itself did no damage, however, coupled with the others was essential to someone in his line of work. The 'All' materia supported and enhanced the others by increasing the range of effectiveness. Once the third one was in, Ichigo held up the sword, careful not to let the sharp tip pierce the roof of the shop.

"Now it's perfect." He commented. Placing it on his back, allowing the small magnetic strip on his shirt to keep it in place, he turned to the owner. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Actually…do mention it. I could use the business." He said with a laugh. Once his laughter died, he leaned over the counter and stared at his fine work. "So what's the plan? I doubt you need something that good to kill a few Seaworms and Crysales."

Ichigo crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter. "I'm not sure. Lately I've been thinking about getting out of Mideel but I'm not so sure. Where would I go? What would I do? I don't know but something is almost pulling me away…as if there's something I have to do but I don't know what. If that makes any sense."

The aged man nodded sagely and looked at the young twenty three year old with a smile. "That my boy, is the planet calling out to you. I believe everyone on Gaia has a role to fulfill and this is its way of telling you it's time to fulfill yours."

"A role huh?" Ichigo muttered. "How do you even begin to find out what it is?"

"No one knows. You can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards. Everyone in Mideel appreciates what you do for us by getting rid of monsters and helping out, but maybe it's time you branched out. You're a mercenary, and despite making decent money here, you won't ever get very far. But out there…" He said, waving a hand toward the distance. "The possibilities are endless."

"Well, I was advised to check out Costa del Sol earlier today but other than that I don't know much else I could do." Ichigo said.

The shop owner took a deep breath and nodded to himself. "Costa del Sol, that's a beautiful place. Someone young like yourself would probably have a good time at the Golden Saucer, maybe even Midgar up on the plate if you want to make a killing."

Ichigo tapped the wooden surface he was laying on with his fingers. There were now two people telling him he should go explore the world. He liked his home, but he couldn't deny there wasn't much to it. The night life was nonexistent and nothing exciting ever happened.

"Maybe I'll check them out." He said, pushing himself off the counter. Waving over his shoulder as he made his way to the front door, he called out one more time. "If you don't see me soon, then you'll know I took your advice. I'll see ya."

The next two weeks were spent in the same fashion as the rest of his days, though the thoughts of exploring the world weighed heavily on his mind. The strange dreams he had along with the weapon smith's words had been bugging him. Maybe there was some truth to the 'planet calling him' theory the man had. After all, he had been born in the place where the lifestream was closest to the surface.

Picking up his sword, Ichigo took a look around the room and exhaled. It was time to go. His pockets were full of Gil that he'd saved up over the years, so he had plenty to spend on necessities as he traveled. Exiting his home, he made his way to the nearby port where he was able to bribe the owner of a large ship to let him ride with them. The route they were taking would make one stop in Junon, before passing through Costa del Sol where he would disembark.

Knowing how the people worked and how much he'd done for them, he was able to get away with paying less than he was willing and was soon on his way. The days passed on relatively slowly, with the only form of entertainment coming from the beautiful sight of the night sky. Without the lights from buildings, he was able to clearly see all the stars in the sky.

As much as he enjoyed the sights, he was very much relieved when it was over and he was finally able to touch down in Costa del Sol. The people back in Mideel were right about it being beautiful. The sun almost seemed to shine differently here and the breeze had a slight salty scent to it thanks to the ocean. He stepped aside, ignoring the looks some of the other tourists were giving him due to the large blade he carried. Deciding to first get a place to rest, he made his way down the concrete path that led to a large arch made out of seemingly golden stones. The stones shined brightly giving the area an almost golden glow which certainly added to the appeal. Passing the arch, Ichigo saw a large two story bar with music playing loudly. People in their swimsuits walked in and out with smiles on their faces and drinks in hand.

His eyes were naturally drawn to the myriad of women walking by. He wasn't a pervert by any stretch of the word, but even his self control had its limits.

Beautiful women indeed he thought to himself. Breaking his gaze, he continued walking to the building across from it which was simply named 'Inn'.

"Not very original." He mumbled to himself with a shake of his head. Walking in, he made his way to the front desk where a young man was just finishing up with another patron.

"Good afternoon. Welcome to the Costa del Sol in. What can I do for you?" He asked politely.

"Are there any rooms available?" Ichigo asked.

The man nodded. "There's two vacant at the moment. If you're interested, the rate is 300 Gil per night."

That was cheaper than he was expecting but he wouldn't question it. Fishing out the necessary amount, he placed the money on the counter, enough for three days worth. It was explained to him that if he decided to check out earlier than what he'd paid for, he would lose the difference. They had to make more money somehow, he figured.

After he was given his key, he went up the stairs to the small room that he would call home for the next couple of days and took a few minutes to rest before heading back out. The first stop was to the small shop nearby to get some shorts before hitting the beach. He wasn't sure whether he'd go in or not, but he certainly wouldn't be going in his current attire.

Costa del Sol was in every sense of the word, a tourist trap. The shorts had been absurdly expensive but he'd had no choice. This was his first stop on his journey and he would enjoy it. The money would be back to him soon. For now, he'd go change and hit the beach.

xxxx

"Damn. It's packed." He said to himself as he scanned the beach. All over, towels, chairs, and large umbrellas were scattered around. Families and couples were basking in the sun or enjoying their time in the water, splashing and swimming further into the water to ride the waves back to the shore.

Looking to his right, he spotted a single chair with no one on it. Next to it however, was a woman who seemed to be around his age occupying a seat. He'd really not bother anyone but it was the only spot available.

"Excuse me, is this chair taken?" He asked, getting the woman's attention.

The redheaded woman turned to look at him and he noticed her eyes were a shade of brown a tad lighter than his own. She wore a yellow tube top style bikini top along with regular bottoms of the same color. Ichigo noted that she was in very good shape, the kind of body one got through rigorous training.

"No. Feel free." She replied in a soft tone. Nodding at her, he placed his sword down, keenly aware of the woman's gaze on it as he buried it tip first into the sand. Laying back on the reclining white chair, he took a deep breath and stared out into the ocean. The view truly was amazing.

For fifteen minutes, he sat there just enjoying the atmosphere. It was different from what he was used to but he found he liked it. His eyes constantly found something new to inspect in the distance.

"First time in Costa del Sol?" He heard the woman next to him ask.

"Yeah. I'd heard a lot about it and finally decided it was time to see for myself. What about you?"

The woman shook her head and turned back to stare at the waves that were about to crash onto the shore. "I've been here a few times. I just ask because you've had this look of awe on your face since you sat down."

He raised an eyebrow at her comment. So she had been paying close attention even though it seemed like she was lost in thought. There was definitely more to this girl than he thought.

"It's a lot to take in for someone who hasn't been here before." He replied easily. "But I'm not the only one with a look on their face."

She turned to look at him but didn't reply, the look on her face told him she was waiting for him to continue.

"You look like you're lost in thought. Something eating at you?" He pried carefully.

The woman smiled sadly and looked away, turning her attention back to the water. Ichigo mentally kicked himself for asking, whatever was on her mind was most likely personal and his prying could have made things worse. Fortunately, his thoughts and worries were broken a moment later when she spoke once more.

"I came here to reminisce." She admitted before blinking slowly. "I just realized we've been talking for a while and I still haven't introduced myself. Cissnei." She said, holding out a hand.

He took the offered appendage. "Ichigo." He noted that her grip was firm as well and mentally added it to what he knew about her.

"Wutaian?" Cissnei asked, genuinely curious. Her previous experience with the Wutai natives hadn't been pleasant, not that she could fault them. When Shinra wanted something, they went to any lengths to get it. Even if it meant declaring war.

Ichigo shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of. I was born and raised in Mideel. From what I was told, my family succumbed to illness about a year after I was born so I never got the chance to ask why I got the name. I like it though."

"It's definitely unique. That and your hair, never met anyone with orange hair." She commented.

His eyes wandered up to her own tresses. "Yours is just a few shades darker than mine."

Cissnei smiled and turned back to the ocean. For the next hour the two engaged in small talk every few minutes, each taking a turn asking the other whatever question came to mind. He wasn't sure why but he felt comfortable chatting with her. She was easy going and seemed friendly enough, even if he could see that she was far more than she let on. That feeling only intensified when he once again caught her looking at his weapon.

"Are you familiar with swords?" Ichigo finally asked.

Cissnei shrugged. "I'm decent enough, not my preferred weapon though." She said before standing up and grabbing the towel she had brought with her. Ichigo noticed her eyes rapidly dart somewhere behind him and then in the direction of the Inn. Her eyes narrowed for a split second before her smile was back in place.

"Well, I'm glad we could chat. Maybe I'll see you around?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

"I'm sure you will."

With that, Cissnei walked off at a hurried pace. Looking over his own shoulder, he frowned when he saw a small batch of Shinra infantrymen looking around the beach. One of them made a sign with his hand toward the beach and three began to slowly walk across the sand, their heads slowly swiveling as they searched for something.

Or someone he thought with a frown. His mind thought back to Cissnei. Her fit body, firm hand shake, critical observations, and her comment about having a preferred weapon. Had she done something to piss off Shinra? With a careful eye, he watched the men continue to scour the area, trying to listen in on what they were saying.

Sadly, none of them mentioned anything worthwhile, but he was confident in his guess that they were likely looking for his new friend. Doing the best he could to ignore them, he closed his eyes and rested his hands behind his head. Cissnei would be fine.

He had hoped at least. Two days had passed and he'd yet to run into her again. His time at the beach had been spent in the same chair, but she never showed up. Part of him wasn't all that surprised, it was a large beach. She could have simply been elsewhere, but another part thought back to the Shinra troops that were still in the area.

Sitting up on the bed, he glanced out into the darkness from the window. This was his last night here before he would move onto the next place. He wasn't sure where he was going yet, deciding to leave it up until it was time to go. Ichigo frowned when he saw sparks flashing on the beach. Rapid flashes in different directions but never too far from a single point.

The sparks were soon followed by the familiar flash and loud booms only an automatic rifle could make. In his mind, the image of Cissnei smiling appeared. That was all it took for him to grab his sword and dash out of the Inn. There was no guarantee it was her, but whoever it was could use the help.

Down at the beach, Cissnei frowned as the Shinra troops continued to surround her. There was seemingly no end to them, no matter how many she put down. She had been too careless, too caught up in her memories that she'd let herself be seen by Shinra. Tseng had given her an out the day she had helped Zack and his friend escape. All she had to do was disappear, but she couldn't do that.

Costa del Sol was where her last fond memories of the SOLDIER first class took place. It was only right to come by a year after his death to honor his memory. Now word would likely get back to the Turks and they would stop at nothing to find and dispose of her. After all, there was only one way someone was allowed to leave the Turks, and that was in a body bag.

Catching her Rekka with one hand, she expertly blocked the bullets that had been fired at her and rolled out of the way to avoid a kick from the back. Grunting in annoyance, she threw her weapon once more only for one of the infantrymen to use his rifle to alter its trajectory and leave it embedded in the sand.

More troops were slowly arriving and she knew she couldn't continue to fight. She needed an escape route, but where?

As she was scanning the area, multiple bright purple orbs materialized above the troops and suddenly, they all collapsed into the ground. The sand formed a large ring as if it were being depressed by force.

"Materia." She muttered to herself. Those who had been out of the area of effect didn't get the chance to ask what was going on and only saw the slightest glint of steel before they were cut down.

"Yo." Ichigo greeted, resting his sword over his shoulder.

Cissnei looked wide eyed. Beating fodder like them wasn't a feat, any half trained person could do it, but the speed and effectiveness in which he did so was definitely something to note. She wondered if he was a former SOLDIER, it would make sense considering the weapon he carried. That thought was discarded when she looked at his non mako infused eyes.

"Ichigo." She said slightly out of breath. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

He shrugged. "I wanted to see what was going on when I saw the flashes of light."

"She has allies. Fall back for now. Report back to Tseng!" One of the men shouted. Obediently, the others followed the order and began clearing the beach.

Ichigo felt his wrist be grabbed by Cissnei and was soon led back to the Inn.

"We can't stay here." She said hurriedly. "Grab whatever you need. By sunrise, this place will be flooded with infantrymen and Turks."

"Hold on!" He said, ripping his arm out of her grip. "How are you sure?" He asked, though he had his suspicion.

Cissnei sighed and looked at him with a guilty look. "Because I used to be one of them. I promise I'll explain what's happening later but you need to trust me right now. In a few hours the head of the Turks and the higher ups at Shinra will have you listed as a wanted criminal for helping me. We need to disappear."

Ichigo thought back to the shopkeeper's words from the other day. "I believe everyone on Gaia has a role to fulfill and this is its way of telling you it's time to fulfill yours." He had said. Only three days into his trip and he was already knee deep in problems.

"A role to fulfill huh?" He thought before nodding. "Fine."

It was a good thing he didn't have much. After grabbing some of the Gil he'd left on his bedside table, the two exited the Inn and made their way to the docs. As they ran, Ichigo wondered if there was some merit to the shop keeper's words. Had running into Cissnei been part of a plan for him? Or was it all by chance?

"Come on. We can hop on this one." Cissnei urged, picking up the pace.

He supposed it didn't matter now. When it was all said and done he would have his answer.