Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo…no matter how much I pray to the Soul King.

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

[Mugetsu talking]

"Attack Names"

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Chapter 2: Resolve

As the sunlight of the new morning beat down on his unprotected face, Ichigo groaned in protest. The lingering effects of his long nap having yet to leave his system. Slowly fluttering his eyes open, he was met by a warm radiance instead of the harsh glare that he expected.

He slowly sat up on the bed he was in. Looking around, he realised he was in an infirmary. By the looks of the architecture, he was definitely in the Soul Society. The only logical choice left was the Fourth Division barracks.

After clearing out that mystery, he stretched his arms out and bent his back to work out any kinks he may have had. As his bones satisfyingly popped into place, the side door of the room he was in opened.

As the person who walked out finally looked up, she startled a little when she saw Ichigo awake. She blushed a little in embarrassment at being caught off guard because she was daydreaming.

As Ichigo took in her features…he noticed that she was quite tall for a women standing at a height of at least 6 ft 1 inch with steel grey eyes and short messy silver hair with strands on the right side of her face that are shoulder length and styled as two thin brains. She wears a thin dangling red earing on each ear along with a standard Shinigami uniform that did little to hide the very curvy figure that she possessed. There was also a Lieutenant's badge on her left arm He recognised her as one of the Lieutenants he knocked out on Soukyoku Hill when he rescued Rukia. If he wasn't mistaken, she was the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division.

"Err…Hi, um…" He started before embarrassingly scratching his cheek. "Sorry…I never got your name."

"Oh! My apologies. I…um…My name is Kotetsu Isane." She shyly introduced herself.

"Right, nice to meet you Isane…well, formally at least." He chuckled weakly, hoping the girl didn't hold a grudge against him for knocking her out back then. "How long have I been out?"

"It's been about eight days since you defeated Capt…err I mean Aizen and collapsed shortly afterwards due to immense strain on your body. For the most part, you are fully healed. Physically you are 100%. Your reiatsu on the other hand, is wildly fluctuating and doesn't seem to be stable at all. I was told you would be aware of this as well as the reason so there's no need to go into detail." She recited professionally as she read his chart. Ichigo just nodded his head in acceptance, not wanting to say anymore on the subject, before looking off into space.

Isane felt the sombre mood the room currently took. It wasn't much of a surprise to her, considering what Ichigo went through. Having fought off the Espada in Hueco Mundo before having a titanic battle with the monster that Aizen Souske became…all in the space of a few days…it must have really taken its toll on him, both physically and mentally. If that wasn't enough, he made the ultimate sacrifice to save them all. Sacrificing his power, literally a piece of his soul, to save the world. He was a hero in every sense of the word. Isane couldn't keep the awe and admiration out of her eyes as she silently gazed at him. She was honest enough with herself to admit that she had developed a small crush on him…ever since she saw him on Soukyoku Hill. She was positive that she wasn't the only one among the female Shinigami that harboured a crush on the orange haired substitute. Watching him fight for his beliefs and the lives of his friends and having the courage to stand up to the powerful Captains along with the determination to follow his own moral compass…it was inspiring to someone like her, who was always a little lacking in terms of self-confidence. Despite being a lieutenant, she had her fair share of insecurities. She can honestly say that watching him fight, inspired her to be a little more that she thought she could be. If someone like him, who's only 15 years old and still just a boy, can make the enormous sacrifice that he did and still look at her with a content smile on his face, what right did she have to wallow in her self-pity. She vowed to try to be better, not only for herself, but as a way to thank Ichigo for his sacrifice. She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of his voice.

"So how have things been since the war ended?" He asked casually in an attempt to strike up conversation with the buxom medic.

"Hmm…there's been a lot of partying…a lot of drinking and a lot of silly shenanigans." She giggled as she remembered one particular memory involving a drunk Zaraki-taicho, a pink tutu, a jar of humus and a rubber duck. She quickly came back to reality though when she saw Ichigo smiling at her reaction, having realised that she had giggled in front of him. Clearing her throat, she continued. "The Sou-taicho has given most of the Captains and Lieutenants a small vacation window to rest and recover from the fights so there hasn't been much else in terms of work being done. Unohona-taicho and the rest of the Fourth Division have been hard at work though. There have been a lot of injuries and a lot of clean up that needed to be done after the battle."

Ichigo nodded his head in acceptance of her answer, he was about to speak up again before the door to his room burst open. Orihime, Rukia, Chad, Renji and Ishida all flooded in. Ichigo just looked at them with a flat stare, having honestly expected something like this to happen soon. These guys honestly had no sense of propriety. He shared a bemused glance with Isane who smiled encouragingly before leaving the room, giving the group their privacy.

"Kurosaki-kun…" Orihime whimpered out his name, large tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. Ichigo just looked at her in fond exasperation.

"Geez, what's with the face you're making, Inoue?" He ribbed good-naturedly. "Are you doing okay?" He asked with a genuine smile on his face. Before he could hear her answer, Ichigo was smacked across the head. He would like to say that it surprised him, but he was honestly expecting it.

"Idiot! You shouldn't be asking her that when you're the one everybody was worried about! What were you thinking?!" Rukia berated him. Ichigo just looked at her with a deadpan expression.

"It's nice to see you again too, Rukia." He said flatly with half-lidded eyes, said girl just flushed in embarrassment at her outburst.

"You look pitiful, Kurosaki." Ishida jibed as he pushed his spectacles up with his finger, causing them to glint.

Ichigo completely ignored him and sent a wave to Chad who responded by giving him a cheesy thumbs up.

Afterwards, Ichigo greeted the rest, catching up with the events that he had missed out on. They told him about the different parties that where still happening even after almost a week, mostly thanks to Kyoraku and Rangiku, not that Ichigo was surprised that it was those two leading the charge. They told him about the clean-up of Karakura Town along with it being transported back to the world of the living. Everything was back to normal for the most part.

Although Ichigo was happy enough with the conversation, he could almost feel the elephant in the room. They were trying hard to hide it, but he could clearly see the pity in their eyes when they looked at him. He ignored it at first, but now it was starting to irritate him. They were clearly doing their best to avoid mentioning any fights or any mention of the actual war in an attempt to keep him from thinking about his inevitable loss of power. While he wanted to tell them the truth, he decided that his silence was a better solution at this moment. He would eventually tell them if things work out well. So for now, although it was irritating, Ichigo decided to just leave them be. If it was the old him, he would have definitely called them out on it. He hated being pitied. But like he told Mugetsu, it's time for him to move on and grow up. There was no need to make a scene. He would allow them to continue their façade. He currently had more important things to worry about.

"Ichigo…about your powers…" Rukia spoke out hesitantly. The others in the room shifted uncomfortably at the topic. Ichigo was surprised that someone actually brought it up after they did their best to avoid mentioning it so far.

Ichigo just smiled softly in return.

"I know. I knew the consequences of what I did and I'm ready to face them. I don't regret a single thing though. I would do it again if I had the chance." He told her. The others looked at him with wide eyes at his admission, before it settled into looks of respect, admiration and acknowledgement. Orihime still looked teary eyed though and Ichigo just chuckled at her behaviour.

"I see…well…if you have no regrets then I can be at ease." Rukia replied, looking resigned at what was going to happen.

Ichigo honestly felt like an asshole right now. He didn't want to deceive his friends in such a way…but he convinced himself that this was the best way to go for now. Mugetsu agreed with him. The situation right now was far too precarious and he couldn't afford to take any chances. His life and the life of his family could be in danger if things took a turn for the worse. For now though he would grin and bear it…hopefully they would forgive him for it later on. Although, if you wanted to be technical about it…he didn't really lie to them. He never told anyone he would lose his powers…that was just the assumption that his father had and therefore it was the one everyone ran with. Even now, he told them he would face the consequences of his actions…what those consequences were…they had no way of knowing. It was a bit of a grey area but it was a cold comfort to him in some ways.

After almost two hours of casual conversations, they were eventually chased out of his room by the ever-smiling Unohona-taicho. Even after facing down Aizen in his transcended-mutant-butterfly-monster form…Ichigo can honestly say that Unohona-taicho was still the most terrifying person he met. Not that he would ever say that out loud. He was terrified of facing her wrath.

After she left, after doing some routine check-ups on him, Ichigo reclined on his bed and enjoyed the silence. He finally had time to reflect on the last week. It was one hell of a rollercoaster ride. He didn't regret any of his actions though. He sighed wistfully though, when he remembered that he won't be able to fight with Zangetsu any longer. It was a hard pill to swallow for him. Zangetsu had been his partner from the very beginning. He was there for Ichigo through the many ordeals that he faced and helped pull him through many of them. He didn't understand why Zangetsu, both of them, had been lying to him all this time. He didn't understand what agenda they seemed to be pursuing. But he still thought of them as his companions, and that didn't change even after knowing all of the things they kept from him. He will remember them with fondness, but he had a new path to walk now. He felt the comforting hum of reiatsu pulsing through his body, understanding it as Mugetsu's way of saying that she is there for him. He smiled in contentment at that.

As he looked to the side, he spotted his reflection on the window. He noticed that he still looked the same as he did when he completed his Dangai training. His hair was still longer and falling messily around his face. He could feel the longer reach of his taller body. He also noticed that his eyes now looked red, almost crimson, instead of the regular brown. He figured it being a side-effect of the Final Getsuga Tenshou or maybe the merging of his powers. He decided not to dwell on it. He slowly closed his eyes and relaxed his mind, willing himself to reach his Inner World, deciding to spend the rest of his time here training with Mugetsu.

(Scene Change)

It was the dead of the night and there was a stillness in the air that hung over the Seireitei. The only disturbance in the air was a black blur that was moving from rooftop to rooftop at blistering speeds. The distance being covered with each step was nothing to sneeze at either.

Ichigo found that, thanks to the intensive training sessions that Mugetsu put him through, he could move at must faster speeds and cover greater distances with his Shunpo. His control of his reiryoku was now second to none and if it wasn't for the slight fluctuations, due to the still evolving nature of his power, one wouldn't even be able to tell he was there. It amazed him how far he had come in just seven days. He had always had a ridiculous growth curve but it still managed to surprise him. It helped that Mugetsu was an amazing teacher. She hypothesised that it was Kyoka Suigetsu's personality that influenced that part of her as Aizen, before defecting, used to be an instructor as Shinō Academy hence his Zanpakutō picked up that personality trait as well before bleeding over to Mugetsu. He came to a strange appreciation that, even though the guy was a colossal asshole and a genocidal maniac, he was apparently one hell of a teacher.

Ichigo clamped down hard on his power as he snuck towards the Shinō Academy. He had slipped out of his room not too long ago, thankfully without drawing the attention of Unohona-taicho.

It was at times like these that he was thankful for being trained by a former Captain of the Second Division and Commander of the Onmitsukidō. While he was normally a kick-down-your-door-and-smash-in-your-skull kind of guy…he picked up enough from his training with her to know how to be stealthy when needed. Thinking about her though, left a bitter taste in his mouth. He decided to push it to the back of his mind. He had a mission to carry out.

Breaking into the Academy was laughably easy. It would have concerned him if he actually cared about their security, which he didn't. It was just another example of the lax behaviour that permeated the Gotei 13. They seemed to always think that nothing would ever happen to them, until something did happen after which they would become shocked that someone had the gall to attack the mighty Gotei 13. It was that kind of attitude that made Ichigo dislike this place. Captains like Soi-Fon and Komomura embodied the kind of hubris that seemed to land the Gotei 13 in trouble, as has happened frequently over the last few months.

Ichigo put that out of his thoughts though as he dropped from the window into a storage room. His eyes sparkled in triumph as he spotted the horde of blank swords stacked inside the room.

"Jackpot."

He quickly went over and started inspecting them. For the most part, they all looked the same. Standard length katana, with a plain circular guard and a grey hilt. It wasn't much to look at, but that would change once he finally imprinted his power upon it.

'Is there any difference between them or can I just grab anyone one of these Asauchi?' He questioned internally.

[Don't worry, they are all the same. Just pick whichever you want and I'll help you disguise it]. The gentle voice of Mugetsu answered him.

"Right, well this one will do. Time to get out of here." He said before taking the Asauchi that he initially picked up before silently vanishing from the room.

He sped across the Seireitei once more, only this time he was making his way towards the outer edges of the place that was surrounded by trees and mountainous terrain. It seemed to be the kind of place that you would expect the main character from a Shonen Jump anime to come to train for a final battle.

Whimsical thoughts aside, Ichigo snuck into a small cave and set the Asauchi on his lap.

'Okay Mugetsu, I'm ready. What do I do first?'

[You don't really need to do anything for now. Normally I wouldn't have any objection to you doing this, but your reiryoku is still in a state of flux so we can't take any chances of your hold breaking. Project a small amount of your reiryoku outwards and relax yourself and allow me to project my will through you]. She suggested.

Ichigo nodded and followed her advice. Evening out his breathing as he entered a state of calm. Suddenly, the rocks and plants around him in the cave started to dissolve into blue particles. The reishi that held them together breaking down before rapidly moving towards Ichigo. The matter coalesced around the Asauchi on Ichigo's lap, before slowly starting to even out and taking shape.

After only a few seconds, the process finally completed and the reishi solidified. The Asauchi that was once on Ichigo's lap now looked like an exact replica of the Shikai state of Zangetsu that was currently draped across his back.

After standing up and taking a few swings with the new sword, Ichigo nodded in satisfaction before taking the old Zangetsu off his back.

He looked fondly at the sword that got him through so much. All the battles, the heartbreak and happiness. The blood sweat and tears he shed whilst wielding it. He would definitely miss it, but he knew he had to move on. It wasn't easy though. There was so much more that he wanted to do. He never got the chance to thank Zangetsu, both of them, for helping him protect his loved ones. After exhaling deeply, Ichigo bid a silent farewell to his old blade, a single tear falling down his right eye. Slowly, the blade started breaking apart before finally dispersing into air in a burst of blue. There was complete silence in the stillness of the cave.

[The task is complete]. Mugetsu declared after a few minutes of allowing Ichigo to collect himself. [The Asauchi is currently encased in a strong reishi structure that will hold as long as we need it to. It is not dissimilar to the way your original Zanpakutō was formed, through pure Quincy reishi manipulation. Once we get back to the world of the living and you finally complete your metamorphosis, I will allow the cocoon to disperse to allow you to finally imprint me onto the blank sword held within. But for now, this will be enough to fool the eyes of the Shinigami].

Ichigo nodded in silent acceptance before quietly disappearing in a burst of Shunpo. He was still reeling emotionally from the events. Even though his mind knew that Zangetsu would no longer be around…seeing the tangible proof, in the act of his old Zanpakutō disappearing finally hit home the finality of it.

He quietly snuck back into his room without alerting anyone. He crawled into his bed and put his arm over his eyes...fighting the tears that threatened to burst forth. He allowed himself to quietly grieve for his old partner. He knew they wouldn't want him to despair like this, but he allowed himself to let go just this once. He remembered all the lessons that the both of them imparted onto him. He vowed to always strive to move forward and never look back. To let his instincts guide him and to never give in, even when things are looking tough. Mugetsu comforted him throughout the night, sending warm pulses of reiatsu to let him know he wasn't alone. He was thankful for that. It was with a heavy heart that he finally drifted off to sleep.

(Scene Change)

The next few days passed by in a blur. Ichigo spent most of the time in his room in the Fourth Division barracks. Unohona-taicho insisted that he stay put so that she could keep him under observation. He didn't have the energy or the courage to argue with her. It was an emotional few days. It took a lot of comfort from Mugetsu, but he was finally able to come to terms with Zangetsu's disappearance. He would miss them…but he knew they wouldn't want him to wallow in despair. It would only cause rain to fall in his inner world, which they both hated ironically. It was time to look forward. He had no right to let his fear cloud his mind. Now wasn't the time to hesitate, or he would die. He would not retreat for he would age. He would take the lessons that those two and keep them close to his heart. He would not dwell on his doubts any longer. They both helped to pave a brighter future for him and he would walk his path without fear.

He had a few visitors in the last few days, apart from his regular gang. Ikakku and Yumichika stopped by, all three of them discussing the fights they had. Little Yachiru also visited him and shared some of her candy. Rangiku drunkenly stumbled into his room once and tried to flirt with him…and horrendously failed. That was about it. None of the Captains came to see him, apart from Unohona-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho…not that he was surprised by that.

He spent most of the time talking to Hanataro who, bless his little heart, visited him every day. Ichigo was glad he could catch up with his old friend after all this time. The rest of his time was spent getting to know Isane. Ichigo found her to be excellent company. While she seemed to be perpetually shy and nervous…Ichigo was good enough judge of character to know that, underneath her shyness and insecurities, she had a core of steel. Not to mention that she was sweet person who was naturally kind and helpful to all that she came across. That part of her reminded Ichigo of his own mother who was always full of kindness for everyone and never hesitated to lend a hand to any who asked. That may have been what drew him to Isane. They discussed everything from the current events of Soul Society to the applications and intricacies of Kaidō (Healing Kido). Ichigo expressed interest in the art, explaining that his father was a doctor and that he grew up in a clinic and regularly helped his father. Isane was only too happy to explain the basics of the art, much to Ichigo's fascination. They bonded over their similar respect and experience with the medical field. Ichigo was happy to have made a new friend.

It was bittersweet though…as he knew he probably wouldn't see her, or any of his other Shinigami friends for a long time. He would miss times like this. Hopefully, they will meet again soon.

Those were his thoughts as he stood in front of the large Senkaimon, the same one that took him back to Karakura Town after he rescued Rukia.

He was surrounded by Orihime, Chad and Ishida who were also ready to leave. Seeing them off were Rukia, Renji, Hanataro, Isane and Ukitake-taicho.

It kind of pissed Ichigo off that none of the other Captains deemed him worthy of their time. He could understand Unohona-taicho not being here as she was busy with the many patients from the war that she still had to tend to. She had already said her goodbyes and gave Isane a small break to see off her new friend.

The rest of them seemed just give him a metaphorical pat on the back and sent him on his way. With the exception of the previously mentioned Captain of the Fourth Division, Kyoraku-taicho and now Ukitake-taicho, none of them even bothered with a simple thank you.

A small part of him though wasn't at all surprised. The overflowing pride and arrogance of most of those Captains will never allow them to acknowledge that they needed a 15 year old to win their battles for them. That would be the same as acknowledging their own inability to do their jobs. It would be the same as admitting they were weak and that was something that they would never do. He would hope that they would at least take some lessons to heart from this whole debacle but it seems that the more things change, the more things stay the same.

He put it out of his mind though. He didn't care what they thought. His sacrifice was acknowledged by those he cared about and that was more than enough. He didn't do what he did for the good of Soul Society or to protect the Soul King or anything like that. He didn't think himself as some hero. Aizen threatened his home town, and by extension his friends and family. He threatened Ichigo's treasure, his beautiful little sisters. There was no force in the world that could have spared him from Ichigo's wrath after that. Yuzu and Karin were the most important people in the world to him and he would stop at nothing to keep them safe and happy.

As long as that was achieved, the acknowledgement of those stuffy Captains weren't even worth his time. Let them stew in their own denial for now. Eventually there will come a time when they will need him again…and when that happens…well…it might not work out the way they think.

It was an emotional goodbye as he bid farewell to his Shinigami friends. He knew that he would eventually see them again, but they didn't know that. So for him, it wasn't so much goodbye, as see you later. It was with that thought in mind that he stepped through the Senkaimon, giving the Soul Society a final glance.

(Scene Change)

After setting foot in Karakura Town, he bid the rest of the gang farewell before taking a slow walk through Karakura Town. It was late in the World of The Living, as a full moon hung in the air, beautifully illuminating the silent metropolis of his home town. There weren't that many people out at this time as he leisurely made his way to his destination. It was a quaint little flower shop that he often passed on his way to and from school. He quietly made his way into the store, confident that nobody could see him. He picked up a small bouquet of flowers, white lilies to be precise, and left the money for them on the counter.

He exited the store and used Shunpo to zip towards his desired location. It took him only a few seconds to reach his destination. When he did, a look of melancholy took over his countenance. It was almost a reflex reaction on his part as he gazed at the gravestone of his mother, Kurosaki Masaki. He shook off the negativity though as he knelt down and placed the flowers gently on her grave. This wasn't one of those times when he came here to seek penance from his mother. No, those days of negativity and self-punishment were over. Today, he had something different to tell her.

'Hi mom. It's been a while since my last visit. A lot of crazy stuff has happened since then. Some of them you won't believe. I've met a lot of new people. Some of them are quite unique characters and I'm sure you would find them amusing. Some though, are best forgotten. There have been a lot of hardships and fighting that I've had to endure. I'm not sure whether you'd be proud of what I've had to do but I know that you always taught me to never shy away from my ideals and to always stand up for what I believe in.' Ichigo spoke in his mind, before exhaling deeply. 'I've finally found out the truth about that fateful day that we lost you. I've learned about your heritage and let me tell you, it was an eye opening experience to know that my sweet and loving mother once blew a Vasto Lorde's brains out. I'm not upset though. If anything, I'm proud. Now if any of the kids at school want to brag about who has the coolest mom, I can tell them that mine was a complete badass that hunted vicious monsters in her spare time. Honestly, how someone as strong and beautiful as you end up with a goofball like dad will be something that forever escapes me. I guess love works in mysterious ways.' He thought with a smile as a small chuckle escaped his lips. His quickly sobered up though. 'I think I've finally been able to make peace with what happened. While I'm sure I will always carry the scars of that day with me, I think I can finally start looking forward and trying to move on. I know it's what you would want. I spent this last few years cutting myself off from everything in an effort to numb the pain, but I can see now how selfish that was. Karin and Yuzu were suffering just as much as I have. I don't think I have been the best big brother that I could have been. I'm sure those two will tell you differently. It seems that regardless of how flawed I am, they seem to still love and admire me. I've decided that I need to be better, not just for myself but for them as well. The world is suddenly looking a lot more dangerous now that my eyes have been opened, but there will be nothing that will stop me from protecting them. They will be in a similar position to myself in a few years but I will make sure to be there for them this time. So there's nothing for you to worry about anymore mom. I promise I will keep our family safe in your stead. Even dad, despite the amount of lies he's been feeding me. Rest well mom, and continue to watch over us. I love you.' He finished before getting off the ground and dusting himself off.

He gave the gravestone one last look and a small smile before disappearing in a burst of Shunpo, heading in the direction of his home. He was honestly looking forward to sleeping in his bed again. It was a small comfort, but he really missed it.

It was already late as he got home and his sisters were already asleep. They were safely ensconced in their respective beds, peacefully snoozing away without a care in the world…just as it should be. This is what he fought to protect. He looked fondly at them for a few minutes, before a small frown appeared on his face. Now that his control was so good, his sensory abilities became a lot sharper. Before, when his reiatsu was going at full blast, it acted as a kind of background noise, impeding his ability to sense his surroundings. Now though, he could sense even the tiniest sliver of reiatsu with picture perfect clarity. Which was why it was worrying when he felt the well of power that was thrumming within the bodies of his sisters. It was still dormant and untouched, but he could tell that they possessed immense potential. It shouldn't be surprising considering their heritage. It won't be long before that potential was realised, just as his was. He would need to address this issue as soon as possible, for he refused to keep his sisters in the dark regarding the supernatural world especially considering that they may very well start attracting Hollows soon thanks to their above average reiatsu. He was aware that Karin was already aware of the spiritual world and had some idea about Shinigami, but it was incomplete knowledge. He would tell them all they needed to know and give them the choice he was never afforded. He wouldn't allow them to be defenceless in this harsh world. If they ended up hating him after what they learned, then he would bear that hatred as long as they were safe and happy. Nothing else mattered to him.

He was aware that there were many enemies out there and the best way to protect them in the future was to ensure that they could protect themselves. For now though, until they were ready, he would watch over them and had no problem eviscerating any fool who would dare threaten the safety of his family. He would tear them limb from limb before disembowelling his enemies painfully, gleefully bathing in their blood as he-

'Whoa! Where did that come from?!' Ichigo thought with a little panic as he gripped his head. The spike of intense bloodlust that he just radiated was almost palpable to him. He seriously lost it for a moment. He looked to his sisters to see that they were still undisturbed. He decided to put it to the back of his mind for now. He would question Mugetsu later. For now though, he uttered a silent 'good-night' before closing the door to their room.

His father didn't seem to be around. He wondered what that was about. He was probably at Urahara's. He didn't dwell on it though.

As he stepped into his room, closing the door behind him, he spotted his body on the bed.

'Urahara probably had it dropped off after the war.' He thought.

He was at first apprehensive about going back into his body. He spoke to Mugetsu about it back when they were still in Soul Society. He was worried about the negative effects that his new power might have on his human body. She quickly put his fears to rest though, pointing out that his body couldn't have been entirely human from the very beginning. The circumstances of his birth ensured that. Not to mention that it surely adapted to the different energies coursing through Ichigo over the last 15 years, even if they were passive for most of those years. If you also factor in his now near perfect control of his reiryoku, there was very little that his new state of being could do to his own body. If anything, Mugetsu hypothesised that the energies coursing through him will work to slowly amplify and optimise his body to suit his new power. His body was already malleable before, so it isn't a stretch to think that it would adapt to his new power, power that was his since his birth. She also pointed out that it is a strong possibility that he would stop aging after reaching his peak. It was a scary thought to Ichigo, one that he decided to put out of his mind until he was in a more stable state of mind to deal with it.

He allowed the sandman to claim him as he gave into the physical and mental fatigue that had been weighing him down.

(Scene Change)

When his eye's finally fluttered open again, Ichigo let out a wide yawn as he stretched his body, working out any kinks from his slumber. He noticed that it was still a little dark out. He looked to his alarm clock and noticed that it was only 3AM. He didn't really feel like going back to bed right now.

Luckily for him, Mugetsu gave him the night off in terms of training in his inner world. While he was chomping at the bit to get more training done and learn more as well as better himself, he knew he had to pace himself. There was no hurry at the moment, so he could take it easy and learn at his own pace.

That isn't to say that he would be slacking off. He made a vow to better himself and he was going to do his utmost to be the best that he can be. Not just in terms of power but other aspects of his life as well. For too long, he shut the world out. Hoping to numb his pain and his guilt. He wore a perpetual scowl and just ambled along in life…carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and stewing in his anger and regret. Now though, that wasn't a choice he would perpetuate. He would be a better person. He would be a person that his mother would be proud of. He refused to waste the life that she gave him, the one she sacrificed everything for. He would stand tall and live by his principles. It's the least he could do to honour her memory.

Starting with his wonderful little sisters. For the last few months, having been caught up in soul Society's business, he's been neglecting them. He hasn't been able to spend time with them and spoil them like they deserve to be. He would start making amends starting now.

He slowly got up and gather some fresh clothes and a towel, intent on taking a hot shower.

Half an hour later, having finished his shower, he was now dressed in blue faded jeans and a punk rock t-shirt. His hair was still as messy as always, though now it was longer than he normally kept it. As he looked at his reflection, he decided that he liked the look and decided that he would keep it. His red eyes were a bit disconcerting, but he could learn to live with it. It would be a constant reminder of his willingness to sacrifice and the final mark left by his former partners.

He made his way down the stairs and heated up the stove, intent on cooking a warm breakfast for his sisters. Contrary to popular belief, he did know how to cook. It's just that when Yuzu took over the kitchen, Ichigo decided to allow her to do as she pleased. He realised that it was probably her way to deal with the grief of their mother's death. It was a special ritual to her.

He prepared a simple serving of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, toast and orange juice. It wasn't the delicately cooked meals that Yuzu prepares but it was simple enough for Ichigo to prepare. He set the table for four, not sure of his father would be back in time for breakfast.

As he went about his business, he thought about how he would address the situation concerning their growing power. He knew he would tell them the complete truth. They needed to hear it and they were mature enough to comprehend the depth of what he would tell them. That being said, he decided that he would hold off from telling them for a while. Things were still hot in Karakura Town with Shinigami patrols amped up and running around the clock. There was also a lot of eyes on him at the moment. He would wait till things cooled down before he told them. He also needed to ensure that they were away from the many prying ears that surrounded them. Ichigo didn't want his father knowing that he was aware of the truth of his heritage. It may have been a bit petty, but Ichigo was only 15 so he reserved the right to be a little petulant. There was also the fact that he wasn't sure if his father would tell Urahara, who Ichigo wasn't the biggest fan of at the moment. No, it was safer if Ichigo kept this to himself and only tell his sisters when he was confident of his power and their privacy.

He looked up at the clock and noticed that it was almost six. His sisters should be waking up soon. As soon as he thought that, he heard the hesitant footsteps of Yuzu along with the languid ones of her twin.

Their heads peeked out from the stairway and their eyes landed on their big brother. Ichigo gave them a heartfelt smile, filled with all the warmth and love that only their big brother could give them.

"Onii-chan!"

"Ichi-nii!"

They both shouted before rushing at him. Yuzu barrelled into him like a freight train. Luckily he was strong enough to gather her in his arms and hold her close as she babbled incoherently about missing him. Karin was more subdued in her greeting, though the longing in her eyes told him that her tough girl persona wouldn't allow her to get all mushy. Ichigo was having none of that though as he put his free arm around her and dragged her into their group hug. At first she protested, but even he could tell it was half-hearted at best. She finally gave in though, and settled for the warm embrace of her big brother. Content that he was finally home.

Ichigo just smiled softly, holding them securely in his arms. All the pain and suffering that he endured these last few weeks were absolutely worth it if he could see these two happy and safe. There was no greater reward for him than to see them beaming up at him. He knew that he wasn't the best brother these last few years, and even he could admit to being a moody prick most of the time. But from now on, he would make sure that his sisters received the undivided attention and love they deserved.

"I missed the both of you too." He teased gently as he embraced them.

Karin snorted in faux annoyance while Yuzu just beamed innocently at him.

"When did you get back, Onii-chan?" She enquired.

"Last night. You were both asleep so I turned in for the night. I was a bit tired after my trip so it worked out well for me. How about the two of you? What have you girls been up to while I've been away?" He questioned as he led them to the table, their eyes lighting up in joy when they spotted the hot breakfast that he prepared for them.

Karin wasted no time digging in while Yuzu was a lot more mindful of her manners. He just chuckled at their contrasting personalities despite being twins.

"Karin-chan's been playing soccer around the neighbourhood a lot. She even won a few games against the older teams. I've been doing some sewing and knitting. I even made a few new dresses for my dolls, especially Postaff. But he seems to have disappeared a few days ago. Anyway, we went to the water park to see the dolphins last week. Oh, they were so amazing!" Yuzu gushed as she started narrating the events that took place while he was gone. Ichigo sat there with a gentle smile on his face as he listened to her speak and as he watched Karin eat. It made all the sacrifices worth it if he could experience moments like these.

Even though they were busy eating and talking respectively, Karin and Yuzu immediately noticed the change in their big brother. And it wasn't just the physical change. How could they not, for there wasn't anyone else in the world that knew him better than they did. He was a lot less stiff than he used to be and his smile felt so much more natural now. Not to mention, he looked a lot more at peace with himself. They didn't know what happened but they weren't about to complain about it. It was heartening to see him this carefree. They had sorely missed him these last few weeks. Even Karin, though she would stubbornly deny it. So seeing his gentle smile, one that was reserved solely for them, along with the warmth in his eyes as he looked at them was something that warmed their hearts immensely. They wouldn't question him about his whereabouts, for they knew, even the normally naive Yuzu, that he wasn't being completely truthful with them. They would wait for him to tell them when he is ready to. Until then, they would soak up as much of his attention as they possibly could.

The rest of the morning was spent much in the same way, with Ichigo catching up with his sisters who were more than happy to let him know what has been happening in their lives. After a hearty breakfast, which they both thanked him for, Karin volunteered to do the dishes while Yuzu tidied up the house. They told Ichigo to leave it to them after his hard work at fixing them breakfast.

He decided to leave them to their devices and made his way to his room. Just as he was about to leave, he stopped and turned around to look at them.

"What do you girls have planned for the rest of the day?" He asked.

They quizzically looked at each other before Karin shrugged.

"Not much. I was just planning on lazing about and watching some TV."

"Ah, I don't have any plans either." Yuzu said.

Ichigo nodded before replying.

"What do you say we have us a little movie marathon. I can get us some snacks along with ice-cream, we can switch on Netflix and spend the rest of the day watching movies. How does that sound?"

Their eyes lit up at his suggestion and they nodded vigorously in acceptance. Ichigo just chuckled at their behaviour.

"Okay, after you clean up and take care of whatever business you need to. We'll meet back here in about 3 hours." He hold them.

"Hai, Onii-chan!"

"You got it, Ichi-nii."

Were their responses. Ichigo nodded before making his way back to his room. After closing his door, he settled into a Jinzen position immersing himself in his reiryoku and allowing his spirit to be pulled into his Inner World.

[Welcome back, Ichigo-sama]. Mugetsu greeted his as she delicately sipped on her green tea. He found himself in the lounge area of her house within his Inner World, sitting in seiza across a small table from her.

"Hey Mugetsu. It's good to be back." He warmly greeted his partner. It's been more than a week since they met and Ichigo is starting to feel a lot more comfortable in her presence. Currently though, he looked a bit hesitant.

Mugetsu noticed his skittish behaviour and understood what was troubling him. She would wait for him to address the issue first though as she wanted him to be comfortable and open with his trust towards her.

"Mugetsu I…yesterday…when I was watching over my sisters…there was a moment when I thought about anyone trying to hurt them…the anger I felt was unbelievable…the amount of bloodlust I was feeling was frightening. I…I didn't even mean to feel that way. The violent thoughts that were going through my mind…it was horrifying…I didn't feel any remorse though. If anything…I felt vindicated. I...Why did I feel this way? What is happening to me?" He questioned frantically as he looked at Mugetsu with desperation in his eyes.

She looked at him in understanding for she knew what ailed him. She was expecting this to happen. It wasn't as big of a problem that Ichigo perceived it to be and she had every intention of helping him through this. But first, he needed to understand and accept those aspects of him that he had denied for so long.

[It isn't surprising that this is happening to you. I will explain what is happening to you in a moment, but first I wish for you to answer a question of mine. That Inner Hollow that you possessed, who we now know as being Zangetsu. What did he represent within you?]. She inquired. Ichigo just looked puzzled at her strange question which seemed to be completely off-topic to him but he answered her nonetheless.

"Well apparently he represented my Shinigami powers and the Hollow is inherited from my mother." He answered unsurely. Mugetsu just shook her head in response.

[Those are the powers that he represented within you. I want to know what aspect of you he embodied]. She reiterated. Ichigo looked to be struggling with an answer, something that she expected. It was actually the root of one of the many problems he's had over the years. It was something that he needed to deal with if he wanted to move forward. [Anger. Violence. Hatred. Wrath. Lust. Insanity]. She listed, to Ichigo's growing horror. [He represented everything that you hated about yourself. He was the embodiment of all the negative aspects of your personality that you supressed over the years. All the parts of yourself that you denied. The two of you were different sides of the same coin].

"That's a lie! I'm nothing like him!" Ichigo raged. Mugetsu was unfazed in the face of his anger though and simply raised an elegant eyebrow at him. He flushed in embarrassment at the look she was giving him, clearly telling him that he was proving her point.

[This is the problem you are facing right now. Your powers are now merging and you are transcending to the next level. Your Hollow isn't here anymore to soak up the negative emotions that you bottled-up for the last few years and I refuse to do the same. You are going to need to deal with this differently. You need to understand how unhealthy it is to repress those aspects of your personality. It was the reason for your Hollow being so much stronger than you were. You kept feeding him those emotions]. She pointed out bluntly. She wanted Ichigo to be the best that he could be. She refused to coddle him like his previous spirit used to. He needed to learn that there is more to strength than swinging around a huge cleaver. He needed to find his inner strength to shoulder the burdens that were sure to appear in his future. [You need to accept those aspects of your personality. You need to come to terms with the fact that yes, you do love to fight. You need to understand that it's okay to feel anger or hatred or even lust. Don't bottle those feelings up. Embrace them, for they make you who you are. The key though, is to learn how to control them and not let them control you. Once you understand that, I will gladly help you temper your emotions. To teach you how to use those aspects of you to fuel your ambition and channel them towards being productive. It's why I emphasised discipline when you suggested taking up martial arts and kendo. Those arts will help you learn self-control along with the control exercises I taught you. For if you keep supressing them, should something happen to push you over the edge, you could very well end up being the bloodthirsty monster that you envisioned your Hollow to be].

Ichigo was solemn as she finished speaking. He understood what she was saying. It made a frightening amount of sense to him. It didn't mean he had to like it though. But he wanted to be better. He didn't want to become like his Hollow, or end up like Kenpachi. He had no problems learning to control himself. He would embrace all those parts of him that he denied for so long for it was naught but a stepping stone on his path.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid…but fear never stopped me before. I will take it head on, like I always do. Will you be there with me?" He questioned earnestly, the familiar look of resolve appearing in his eyes once again.

[Always, Ichigo-sama]. She replied back happily. They both settled into a comfortable silence, each simply basking in the others presence.

"Now that we have some time and I finally have control over my reiatsu…what is my training menu going to look like?" He inquired interestedly. Mugetsu just giggled at his predictably boyish behaviour.

[Now that you have the control, I'm going to teach you all the Kido that I absorbed from Kyoka Suigetsu's memories…both Hado and Bakudo. Those will help in augmenting your skillset, which at the moment is severely lacking. It won't be as hard as you might think though. You already have experience in compressing and firing you reiryoku from using your Getsuga Tenshou. Kido is just shaping that compressed reiryoku differently before you release it. We will also work on refining your Shunpo to levels that will hopefully match or surpass your former teacher]. She stated. Ichigo was almost vibrating on the spot in anticipation. He's always wanted to learn Kido, but everyone kept telling him that he didn't have the control for it. The thought of flinging fireballs or even using the infamous Kurohitsugi that he experienced first-hand from Aizen was greatly appealing to him. [I also plan on teaching you how to harness your Hollow abilities. Learning how to fire a Cero, along with the different variations of it along with how to apply your Hierro as well as utilising your Instant-Regeneration abilities. There are many Quincy disciplines that I can teach you as well. Some of them won't really fit someone with your fighting style but a few of them will bolster your arsenal greatly…like Blut Vene…the signature technique of your mother]. Ichigo perked up at hearing that. The thought of learning the same abilities that she had was heart-warming to Ichigo. It was something that he could share with the person that had the greatest impact on his life. He would use those same abilities that she used to protect the family that she so lovingly nurtured. [Offensive and defensive abilities aren't the only thing I plan on teaching you. I am going to train your mind as well. I will teach you the intricacies of politics and human psychology as well as the history of the World of The Living along with Soul Society, Hueco Mundo as well as the Royal Realm. You will learn how to not only control yourself but your opponents as well. For all his many faults, Aizen Souske was a master manipulator. He could manipulate not just the people around him but also the circumstances as well to suit his agenda. Just because you are a transcended being doesn't mean you're invincible. You will need to learn how to fight smart from now on]. Ichigo gulped a little at the passionate speech she just gave. He honestly grimaced at the thought of learning the things that made Aizen so successful in his campaign of madness…but he quickly reminded himself that this was for his family and their future. He would have to suck it up and do what needed to be done. [And finally, I will show you the intricacies of my abilities as a Zanpakutō].

Now that really caught him off guard.

"Err…your abilities?" He asked in confusion.

The look she gave him at his inquiry caused a shudder of fear to wrack his body. Even though there was a pleasant smile of her face…her eyes spoke of untold acts of pain and violence. He made a mental note to never piss off his Zanpakutō…ever. She never took her eyes off him for a second as she continued to stare him down.

[First off, let me make something very clear to you. I am not Zangetsu. I understand that you had a deep attachment to him, but I am a completely different Zanpakutō. As such…don't think I will let you get away with swinging me around like a mindless brute like you did with him]. She punctuated, causing an imaginary arrow with the word 'brute' on it to pierce Ichigo. A small raincloud appeared above his head at her critique. [I expect to be wielded with the skill and finesse of a master swordsman…something I know you are very well capable off. You also need to become more accustomed to wielding a more regular sized sword…for I am not going to be some huge cleaver. That being said…despite what you may think…I am not a melee-type Zanpakutō. I possess a frightening set of abilities that will be at your disposal. I will train you in the art of wielding me in such a way that would make the abilities of those vaunted Captains of Soul Society look like paltry children's tricks]. She declared confidently, scoffing at the abilities of the other Zanpakutō in existence. She was the most powerful…and by extension so was her wielder. She was almost hoping that those Soul Society idiots tried something with him just so that she can watch him crush them. Suffice to say, Mugetsu had no love for the Gotei 13. Maybe it was the way they used Ichigo along with the fact that she is part Hollow as well as part Quincy…but in her eyes, they blew whatever chances they had at a getting into her good books from the dismissive way they treated her wielder.

Ichigo widened his eyes at the notion of his Zanpakutō having an ability. He just assumed that she would be a melee-type like Zangetsu. He didn't think his soul would manifest as something with a special ability as he was a brute force kind of guy for the most part. But like Mugetsu pointed out, he needed to learn how to fight with skill from now onwards. He actually looked forward to learning all these things from her.

Maybe it was a little arrogant of him, but he felt like he deserved this after all his work. He would soak up her lessons like a sponge and become a warrior of frightening proportions. He would try his best to embrace those aspects of him that he feared for so long. He knew it wouldn't be easy and he was honestly a little afraid, but he wouldn't let fear stop him from moving forward. He wouldn't stop until he reached the top. He would protect all those that he cared for and there will be nothing that will stand in his way. That was his resolve…and it was unbreakable.

He honestly couldn't wait. But for now…he had an evening of fun planned with his sisters and he had no immediate plans of ever disappointing them.

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Author Note:

Phew, that's another chapter. The positive response to this story is very humbling and I'm glad so many are receptive to my idea. I had to work around the clock to get this one out. As you can tell…I'm still in the 'introductory arc' so to speak. I used this chapter to set the foundation of the skill set that I wish to give him. I don't plan on writing him actually training, though I will do a few flashbacks to show points I think are important. I don't plan on him knowing a shitload of Kido…maybe just a handful of either for Hado and Bakudo, but probably more of the latter as the support abilities are far superior in my opinion.

There will be a time skip in the next chapter, probably of about 9 or 10 months. I want to show him gradually growing into his new personality and attitude as well as his reaction to the fact that his friends are all seemingly a little more distant now. He will revaluate a lot of his opinions and forge new ones.

I will also do a flashback to show him imprinting his reiryoku upon the Asauchi and unlocking his true Zanpakutō. I already have his ability planned out and it's pretty god-like one. I think I can tie it into some canon facts to make it more believable but he's going to have a pretty broken ability. Then again, if you consider Yhwach and his 'Almighty', Ichigo is going to need a kick-ass counter. It will also help bolster his training. Don't hold your breath on seeing his Bankai soon though, I already know what it is and there won't be anyone strong enough to make him use it anytime soon. I can tell you now though that is won't be a flashy one. It will be a silent and deadly ability. It always irked me how useless his Bankai was after his fight against Byakuya. I mean the speed he showed in that fight was crazy, but we never see those levels again. His Bankai became like a Shikai instead with the amount of times he's had to use it to take on average opponents…yet he was able to beat Kenpachi with his Shikai alone. I know some people will say that it was a draw, but if you consider Kenpachi's strength and experience…I consider that draw to be Ichigo's win. Now, considering he was able to beat Kenpachi, who wasn't wearing his eye patch, before he even achieved his Bankai and learned to control his mask…so how the fuck did he get creamed by Nnoitra who was smacked around by Kenpachi after he took his eye patch off. It doesn't make any sense to me. Someone please give me a logical explanation.

I will also do a small flashback to deal with his explanations to his sisters. I was hesitant in including them at first but the more I wrote the more I realised that the Ichigo that I'm trying to portray wouldn't want to treat his sisters the way he was treated in term of being kept in the dark about the supernatural world. He will give them the choice and it will be up to them if they enter the secret world. Plus they have the same potential the he does, minus the Hollow, so they can both be pretty dangerous. I will leave that choice up to you guys. Let me know if you want them included in his 'team' so to speak. I already have some probable Zanpakutō abilities in mind if I do have them join him.

The Thousand Year Blood war won't start for a few more chapters. I still have about two or three more chapters till I get there. I want to deal with introducing his new abilities, personality and allies first as well as dealing with those pesky Fullbringers.

Like you might have seen in this chapter, Ichigo will start to embrace all the negative aspects of himself and learn to control it. He and Mugetsu will also be influenced by each other's personality and that will come out too.

The reviews so far show that a lot of people are inclined towards IchigoxTier or IchigoxNel. I like these two because of the contrasting personalities they offer. In my opinion, Nel is everything that Kubo tried to have Orihime seem like. Her bubbly and happy personality feels a lot more natural compared to Orihime, not to mention that she can kick ass all over the place. Harribel is an interesting foil to Ichigo's more passionate personality. Her cold and calculated demeanour is something that could ensure they had some fun interactions. They both appreciate the necessity of sacrifice. If I do ever do a relationship between them, I won't be some lovey dovey romance. I can see them both being driven more by their instincts and it being more a thing of mutual respect and trust in one another, like how you would trust someone to watch your back in a fight. The reason I added Bambietta as an option is because she's my favourite Sternritter. I think her second fight with Komamura was one of the best of the arc and I really didn't like how she was betrayed and reduced to a zombie plaything for Giselle. Plus, it's hard to hate a sexy female villain…especially one that can blow shit up. The reason I added Isane is because she's my favourite Bleach girl. I can't help it…I have a thing for tall girls. Plus…the thing with her and Bambietta is that there isn't much back story to them so they are a lot more malleable…the same with Harribel to a certain degree. We don't even know what Isane's Zanpakutō ability is. I can work with that and make her into something that can be entertaining. Regardless of the pairings…Ichigo will be close to each of these women even if it's only in a platonic sense for now. One of the reviewers suggested a small harem with a representative from each race. I will admit that the idea is appealing…but nothing is concrete for now…I will let you guys decide.

Haaah…so much to do. I will focus on my other stories for the next few weeks and try to get a chapter each for them before coming back to update this one. There just never seems to be any time anymore. Oh well…Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and look forward to more.

Lionheart021 out!