DISCLAIMER: I own the shit out of this story. You hear me? I OWN IT. MINE MINE MINE! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

A/N: OI! Please review my story if you're reading this! I can't improve if you don't tell me how!


"What's so funny?" Ichigo's hollow voice rattled the air around him. His yellow eyes narrowed and focused as his opponent forced his blade backward, slowing it to a stop just in time to avoid being cut. The man he had locked blades with looked coolly back and smirked.

"You failed to kill me, Kurosaki Ichigo..." Aizen's words carried with them the significant truth; Ichigo had failed yet again. "That," he continued with a smirk, "was your last chance."

All around them the battlefield smoldered. Karakura Town, or this false recreation as it were, was something out of a 1940's nuclear test video. The few buildings that remained standing were doing so precariously, and if there had been any walls adorning the empty frames of structures, there were none now. Wind blew up dust and garbage from the debris, and swirled around the bodies of the many Arrancar and Shinigami that had fallen in combat. A great crater marred the center of this site, a memorial for their last real chance at defeating Aizen. Yamamoto had left the deep hole when he used the forbidden 96th Self-Sacrificial Hado, in a last bid-attempt to stop the rogue captain's onslaught. An explosion to rival that of the Second Sun of Nagasaki had ripped through the area, as the old general fought and fell for Soul Society. There had been no sign of him since, and it looked as though his fight was over.

Ichigo's fight, however, had just begun.


If anyone were walking around in front of the large warehouse tucked away in the city outskirts, they might have heard or felt a small tremor and thought an earthquake had happened in China. Then again, they might have thought they were hungry, so it's best not to speculate. If they had gone in to the building, though, and down the odd hatch in the center of the floor, they probably would have preferred it to be an earthquake.

"HAAAAAHHHHHH!" Ichigo roared as he swung the cleaver shaped blade of Zangetsu down towards his opponent. "Getsuga-" he began, before a sandaled foot connected squarely with his groin. "GAHIIIEEEEE!" he cried out, manly at first but pitching upward into a squeal of un-manly pain.

"What the hell'd you do that for, Hiyori?" he wheezed, clutching at his damaged goods. "If my kids turn out deformed I swear I'll kill your sorry ass!"

Shinji grinned and spoke from his perch above the two. "Damn, Ichigo, you really gotta learn to protect what's important to ya." he said to the doubled-over teenager before him. He knew his choice of words would stir something in the boy, he had kept close watch on him since that day Urahara had brought the Vizards to Karakura, and he knew Ichigo would need to truly release his anger in order to master his powers. He looked towards the ladder behind him and wondered what time it was outside. They'd been at it for days, the boy wouldn't quit! 'Though I s'pose that's to be expected, he is just like his father after all...'

Ichigo was on the ground still, thinking about his teacher's words. 'What is important to me?' he wondered. 'Why do I fight?'

Images of countless battles flashed through his mind, and with each battle he considered why he'd fought it. His first hollow, for his family. The faces of Karin and Yuzu swam smiling through his mind, followed by his father Isshin's goofy grin. Then he fought Renji, Byakuya, Jidanbou, Ikkaku, Kenpachi, and pretty much the entire Gotei 13, for Rukia. Their faces, once enemies but now close friends, briefly flitted across his vision. When he fought the Arrancar Grimmjow, it was for Rukia and Inoue. Aizen... why had he fought Aizen? 'Was it for my family? No... that feels wrong. Orihime? No... she... she's my nakama, but it wasn't for her, or for any of my other friends really... Then why? Why did I fight Aizen?'

A hand appeared in his vision, slender yet strong. He followed it up, past the ivory wrist, the pearly arm, the shoulder covered by a small lock of raven hair. Ichigo's breath caught in his chest as he realized what his mind was showing him. Or rather, who his mind was showing him.

"Rukia...'", he whispered. A flood of memories and emotions came roaring through his head then. From the moment they met, from her granting him the power to save the people he loved, to the time she brought him back from the edge of insanity after his loss to -WHAM-

"Oi, Ichigo! You okay in there?" Shinji asked loudly as Hiyori continued to kick Ichigo in the side.

"DAMMIT, STOP DOING THAT!"


"Excellent," Aizen said, letting the Karakura boy's reiatsu melt away from his hand. He motioned to the black energy and explained, "It's well developed, just as I had planned..."

Ichigo was stunned. Did Aizen plan all of this? Is he the reason I have an inner hollow? He slowly moved Zangetsu into a defensive position as he listened to Aizen describe the whole plan.

"You encountered Kuchiki Rukia," he began, and didn't fail to notice the spike in the boy's reiatsu at the mention of his friend's name. "And through your fight with Ishida Uryuu you became aware of your power as a Shinigami. Then, in your fight against Abarai Renji, you learned the power of your own zanpakuto." Aizen paused before continuing, observing the unique black cloak the boy wore in his bankai state. "You gained a foothold towards bankai in your battle with Zaraki Kenpachi, and you advanced down the path to hollowfication during your confrontation with Kuchiki Byakuya."

Ichigo's eyes widened. How had Aizen gathered so much information on his activities? Hadn't he been in hiding the whole time they were in Soul Society?

As the last of Ichigo's reiatsu faded from Aizen's fingers he finished his analysis of the boy's experiences. "In your battle with Grimmjow, you mastered hollowfication. And," he added with a sinister gleam in his eyes. "It seems that during your battle with Ulquiorra... You gained a power greater than that."


Ichigo brought Zangetsu down into a ground-stabbing position, charging it up with explosive reiatsu. Black energy surrounded the obsidian blade as he poured more of his power into it. This was a new technique he'd devised after watching the way Urahara fought with his zanpakuto, Benihime. Rather than slashing at every enemy, he figured it might be good to have a way to deal with those enemies with ultra-strong defenses.

When he sensed the blade had enough energy stored, he stabbed it into the ground.

"Whatcha doin Ichi-" Hiyori's question was cut off by a sudden, massive explosion that ripped through the ground underneath her and enveloped her in searing reiatsu. It was only her exceptional speed and quick donning of her hollow mask that saved her from winding up in about a thousand pieces, and she observed how the fountain of energy had actually managed to explode over fifty feet away from where Ichigo had plunged his blade in the ground.

Lifting Zangetsu out of the ground, Ichigo did a quick reiatsu-check to make sure Hiyori was okay. Satisfied he was, he called out to the blonde-haired girl, "Oi, Munchkin! You like that? I call it Tsuchigo Tenshou*!" Hiyori's string of colorful curses assured him she was alright, but definitely not please with his new attack.

Shinji flash-stepped next to him, grinning as he asked, "Oh really, Kurosaki-san? A new technique? And you developed it all on your own it seems... There may be hope for you yet!"

"The hell is that supposed to mean you freak?" Ichigo asked irately.

Shinji merely shrugged and turned away. Looking back over his shoulder, he said to Ichigo with a serious look, "Kurosaki, I hope you don't entertain any illusions of remaining a substitute Shinigami forever. You're much better than that, and everyone knows it."

With that, he flash-stepped out of the training grounds, leaving Ichigo to wonder what the hell he'd been getting at.


"Ah, shit! This is cold!"

Renji whined as the freezing substance went in his mouth, hurting his teeth like a punch to the jaw. Which, oddly enough, is exactly what he got next.

"Baka! Watch your language in public. Mandy is a nice girl and does not need to be tainted by your foul mouth!" Rukia growled, her fist raised in the air as if to warn of another attack.

Mandy blushed behind her ice-cream counter. "It's alright, Kuchiki-san, I- I'm not bothered by it. Ano... Did you want your usual?"

Rukia turned away from glaring at Renji and put a big smile on as she ordered. "Yes, please. Strawberry!" she said, ignoring the curious look her friend gave. So what if she liked strawberry? It was tasty!

Mandy finished scooping the ice-cream into the cone and handed it off to Rukia, giving a knowing smile that was lost on the petite shinigami. "Take care Kuchiki-san! Goodbye Abarai-san, enjoy your ice-cream! Remember to keep coming back," she waved, "and don't forget to tell everyone about me!"

Rukia smiled and waved as they departed, kicking Renji in the shin til he did likewise. They started off towards Urahara's shop to check on Ichigo's training progress, since he was their only source of news on the matter. She really did miss having him around, for fighting hollows and protecting the town. And their arguments. And his smile. Wait. No. Not his smile. That's weird, right?

When they reached the shop they saw Jinta outside ordering Ururu to sweep up some garbage while he sat in the shade. Rukia took the opportunity to sneak up behind him and grab his ear to drag him into the sun. "Don't order little girls around, Jinta! Do the work yourself, I have a feeling Urahara told you to clean up this mess anyways." she ordered. Jinta's retaliatory curses were shut up by a swift kick in the rear from Renji, who added, "Hey you little brat, do your freaking work already and stop whining! Geez, I've heard little girls that bitch more than you do."

"Hey! They do not! I don't bitch! Who the hell are you to talk, Freeloader-san?" the red-headed boy shouted, even as the pair walked inside to speak with Urahara. He didn't notice the large shadow growing behind him until it was too late. He heard what sounded like gravel being put in a blender, and realized who had just cleared their throat. Turning around with a look of fear, he stammered, "T-Tessai?"

Inside the shop, Rukia and Renji could barely hear the sounds of Jinta's spanking at the hands of the massive shop helper. Barely. They were seated at a table with Urahara, who had made tea for them.

"So," he began, sipping his Oolong carefully. "You wish to check up on Kurosaki-san, am I right?"

Rukia nodded and elbowed Renji for yawning, who immediately nodded as he clutched his ribs. "Yep, that's, er... why we're here, I guess." he grumbled, then added under his breath, "Fucking strawberry."

Urahara looked at the two of them, his hat low over his eyes to hide his expression. "Hmmm..."

"Well, I can say that Ichigo is doing well. His hollow is yet to be released, but Shinji last called about twenty minutes ago to inform me that our friend has developed a new attack."

Renji scoffed, "About time. Dumbass only had the one technique... Gesherga Texo or whatever..."

Rukia closed her eyes and sipped her tea as she goaded him. "It's Getsuga Tenshou, baka. And isn't that what he used to beat you? Twice, I think it was?"

Renji glowered at his short friend. "Damn, Rukia, you sure know how to hit a guy right in his pride."

"And you sure know how to lose a fight." Rukia retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. Turning to Urahara, she asked, "Please, what is this new attack?"

"I haven't a clue! Shinji is such a secretive fellow... I'm afraid you'll just have to wait until they're done with him to ask for details about his training. Oh, I do know that it's incredibly powerful, and is nothing like his Getsuga Tenshou. Much like your final dance, Kuchiki-san, it sounds to be nothing like previously seen techniques."

"Hmph, well I bet he'll use that one too much too."

"Renji?"

"Yeah, Rukia?"

-WHOMP- "Shut up."

"What? I'm just saying..."


A/N: Ichigo's new attack is basically "Earth Piercing Moonfang". He pumps energy into Zangetsu, and uses the earth as a channel to blast opponents with the power from below rather than slicing them. This is basically for opponents that move too quickly to slice, or have a strong enough hierro to protect against a Getsuga Tenshou.

This story will remain as canon as possible, and I will be including the Final Getsuga Tenshou as soon as Kubo tells us what that looks like and what it does.