"Kurosaki-san, if I am to tell you the truth about Urahara-san, you have to swear that none of this conversation will be released from this conversation. This is top-secret information that out of all the current working shinigami, only Yamamoto-taichou, Kyoraku-san and I know. Understood?"

"Yes, Unohana-taichou." Ichigo wondered what incredible secret Unohana was going to tell him.

"Ok, well it starts off like this: Thousands of years ago shinigami and hollows did not exist. Before us was a chaotic world, in which all sorts of abominable creatures existed and plagued our world. In human history it was known as the Dark Age. However, unlike the humans say, the dark age had been since the dawn of time. Humans survived by hiding from all the monsters underground, and they build a set of underground tunnels. However, the monsters eventually found them, and few escaped the monsters wrath. Those that did swore to get revenge, and despite the fact that even now some of the ways by which these powers were made are still unknown to us, we do know that four of their greatest warriors gained four different powers with which they could vanquish the monsters."

"The first of their warriors was a proud man, yet still strong and loyal. He used a katana to fight, and his abilities were unrivalled. He transferred part of his soul into his sword, which amplified its abilities and gave him incredible power. He became known as the first spirit king."

"The second was, once, a kind man. However, after watching his wife and 3 kids being slaughtered, his heart grew empty and hollow, and madness took him and even though it gave him amazing power, he left the survivors group and went on a trek by himself, slaughtering thousands of the monsters, and as he wandered into darkness, he never came out. He became known as the first king of the hollows."

"The third man was a kind person, and hated watching all the bloodshed. He believed it was needless, and decided he would set his eyes on finding a way to give people a "second life" if they lived their first life well enough. He spent most of life on this task, and eventually in his old years managed to create a spell, in which any creature that had done more good then evil deed in their lifetime would be able to enter an alternate dimension which he opened up. The severe amounts of energy needed for this spell killed him though, so as his spell was completed he was the first of many to enter what was to be known as "heaven". Humans would also come to name this man "God"."

"The fourth man was twisted and loved bloodshed, the complete opposite of the third man. However he was still angry at his home being destroyed, and decided that he would create a place of torture in which any creature that was unworthy of entering "heaven" would be sent to. This way he could get revenge on the evil monsters that destroyed his home when they eventually died. However, like the third man the energy needed for the spell killed him, so he was also the first of many to enter what would be known as "hell". He would be then known by humans as "the devil"."

"These four people created the four legendary powers that would shake the foundations of the world: shinigami powers, which are even today used on earth to fight against the madness known as "hollows"; hollow powers, which fight for madness and revenge to rule the world; angelic powers, which are used to heal and save lives, but if necessary can be used for the opposite; and demonic powers, which are used to kill."

Ichigo was reeling at the implications of what Unohana was saying. To think that demons and angels existed... it sounded like some cheesy story, but if this was true...

"Wait a second, how come I have never heard of these demons and angels before? And what does this have to do with Urahara-san?" Ichigo questioned Unohana.

"Those questions are simple to answer. First, angelic and demonic powers actually do not naturally exist on earth. As I mentioned in the story, "God" went to heaven and the "devil" went to hell, so obviously the angels exist in heaven and the demons in hell, so unless you have been to heaven or hell you will most likely have never known about them."

"Second, this relates to Urahara-san... because he is an angel."

"Wait, so you are saying that past earth, there really is a heaven and hell, and that angels and demons exist, and to top it off you are saying Urahara-san is an angel? How do you expect me to believe that?" Ichigo exclaimed.

"Proof I can give you later, but for now you must trust me and let me explain the final part," Unohana gently touched Ichigo's shoulder, and after a few moments he calmed down and said:

"Please continue."

"Very well, then. Now Urahara's powers would be best described by comparing them to you, Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Me? Why?"

"Well, you were originally a human, were you not? Well in Uraharas case he was born as an Angel, but just like you, he gave up being a normal Angel to gain a new power. In your case, it was giving up being fully human to gain shinigami powers. In his case, it was demonic powers. Because of this, Urahara-san is known as a demonic angel."

"Also, there are distinct characteristics which each of these powers give the person in question. For the shinigami, it is the black kimono and sword. For the hollows it is the hollow mask. For the angels it is their pure white eyes, and for the demons it is their killing intent."

"You may also want to know who else here has demon or angel powers. I, for one am an Angelic demon. In other words, I used to be full demon but gained the powers of an angel."

I see... so that's how she has the incredible ability to heal people, but also has that deadly killing intent...

"Gin was in fact pure angel. He betrayed his family and left heaven to come after Aizen and join him. This is why he closes his eyes, because if he had them open, then people who know about angels and demons would know he is an angel."

"Now that I have given you a rough outline of angels and demons, I shall explain to you what Aizen's true intention is."

"What do you mean? Isn't his intention to kill the spirit king?" Ichigo asked snapping out of his trance.

"That is part of his plan, but not all of it. He plans to master all four powers: shinigami, hollow, angel and demon. If he succeeds in this, he truly will be immortal."

"So far he has gained shinigami and hollow powers. To help him fuse their powers together, as is using the hogyoku. As far as we know, he plans to kill the spirit king because that way he can take his powers, and truly master his shinigami powers. The hollow king, or 2nd Espada, is dead, so while everyone else was fighting, Aizen subtly took his powers. After he has killed the spirit king he plans to enter heaven and using his ultimate level shinigami and hollow powers kill God. After that he will enter hell and kill the devil. If he succeeds, he will rule the world, and no-one will be able to stand up to him."

"...I see." Ichigo's eyes had gone void, blank and inside his mind was a storm, raging across his mind and setting ruin to all. Suddenly he found himself in his mind, and he heard the faint cry of Zangetsu, saying:

"Ichigo, calm down! Get rid of this stupid storm now! If you don't you will lose your sanity!"

"How?" Ichigo called back to Zangetsu.

"Think of something that made you happy that can quell this storm!"

Something happy, Ichigo thought. What makes me happy?

Well there was the time when... no that's just stupid! How about... no, that was even worse!

Stupid Zangetsu, it's not that easy to think of happy memories great enough to quell this storm. But... that time...

*Flashback*

I was really bummed. Being stuck in school, writing up a load of crap on the board was not what I wished to be doing in the afternoon. On top of it all, I just nearly had a heart attack as Renji, Matsumoto, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Toshiro had nonchalantly entered the school, dressed as students. I thought to myself, what next, Rukia turning up?

Looks like Kami-sama heard my thoughts, and decided to make them come true, because I suddenly heard Rukia's voice, and I was lost for words. I would never admit this to anyone, but without Rukia, nothing feels quite right, almost... empty. As soon as I heard that voice, and especially when I saw her face, I felt like I had been cured from something.

Suddenly I was knocked out of my thoughts, and of course Rukia had to slap me silly, (another thing I would never admit to thinking is that I think she enjoys hitting me) before dragging me out to kill some weakly hollow. However since the battle with Ulquiorra and Yammy I knew my hollow side was much stronger, and if I wasn't careful, he would break out and then could hurt not just my enemies, but my friends also so I tried not to use any of my powers, but I couldn't beat him without my shinigami powers. Suddenly Rukia made some grand speech about not being weak, and at first I was thinking, you don't understand what position I'm in...

"...Or is it because you are afraid of the hollow you know that is inside of you?" Rukia exclaimed.

I was shocked. How did she know about that? And more importantly, why did it sound she did not care about the hollow?

"...and if you are afraid of your hollow, then not only must you get stronger, but you must also swear to your friends that you will protect them. Even if no-one believes you, shout it out! That's the kind of man I know you are... in my heart." Rukia finished her voice almost a whisper.

At that point all I could hear in my mind was those words repeating over and over "That the kind of man I know you are... in my heart." I felt some strange buzzing feeling going around me, and I felt... happy. More happy then I have in a while. Now that I thought about it, Rukia was good at making me happy, even if I didn't always show it. I guess... she was and is now like a ray of light to me...

*Flashback ends*

"Woah, it sure has gotten bright here!" Ichigo exclaimed, looking at his mind, which was now lit up with sunlight. Rays of sunlight covered the whole landscape, and even though it was only an illusion of his mind, Ichigo still felt the warmth. Just beyond the bright sun, he could see the moon there, faint yet still there.

Rukia... Ichigo thought. You always... were good at helping me brighten my world.