Watashi wa Bleach o shoyuu shite imasen.
Chapter 25: Memories no longer matter
Ichigo and Ginjou stopped to rest for a while in an old abandoned building, which Ginjou claimed to be a secret hideout for Xcution.
"We should be fine here for a while… I prepared it in case Tsukishima was able to find all the other hideouts. Actually not only him, the others don't know about this place either." Ginjou informed Ichigo as they finally got a chance to stop running.
"Damn! Why!? Why did this happen!?" Ichigo angrily screamed out.
"Ichigo…" Ginjou attempted to console him but was stopped when Ichigo held him by the collar with both hands.
"This is all your fault, Ginjou! All this happened because you involved me in all this!" Ichigo angrily accused him. He expected a sharper reply or a sudden punch, but all he got was a sympathetic face.
"Yeah… you're right… I'm sorry." Ginjou apologized in a downed tone.
"Damn!" Ichigo shouted out after slamming his hands on the ground while kneeling down, seemingly snapping back to reality. "I know you just lent me a hand! I know it's not your fault!"
"… It's no one's fault… you shouldn't blame yourself either." Ginjou said, finally calming Ichigo down. "Right before attacking me, Yukio told me it's about time I remembered too."
"Remembered? What does that mean?" Ichigo asked.
"Judging from what Chad said, I thought Tsukishima's ability was to confuse people's memories. But from the way they were talking, they didn't sound confused. It was more like they finally remembered and their mind was clear." Ginjou said to the puzzled Ichigo.
"So you're saying…?"
"Yeah. His ability is not to confuse memories, but to manipulate the past." Ginjou paused for a while to allow Ichigo to fit the pieces together. "Tsukishima's Book of the End is a Fullbring that uses a bookmark. But if that's a new ability, then it also matches the previous shape of a bookmark."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked but was gestured by Ginjou to just listen.
"Tsukishima… is able to insert himself in the past of the people he cuts."
It all made sense now. His sisters and friends' strange behavior, was all because of Tsukishima's Fullbring. Ichigo finally managed to find the missing pieces of the puzzle.
"… Is that even possible?"
"I don't know. But you also heard what the people he cut said. They weren't talking about trusting him or not. According to them, he had always been there, somewhere in their past, whether as family, a friend, or lover. They were deeply attached to him."
That was it. The explanation Ichigo was looking for. Ginjou continued his statement after a short while.
"Otherwise, they wouldn't speak as if they were talking about their memories. They aren't confused, nor did they lose their memories. This is their new past. And it's not like in fairy tales, where if you cry, their memories will come back. To them, it's us, the ones who don't know Tsukishima, that are insane."
Finally, Ichigo was able to understand the entire situation. Suddenly, a familiar sensation filled his being as a single thought entered his mind. It was returning, it all disappeared when he lost his powers, but now it's back. The urge to fight, his old ferocity was slowly returning.
"… Will everything… go back to normal if I kill Tsukishima?" Ichigo asked Ginjou, his voice had a deadly and threatening tone to it.
Ginjou cleared his throat before answering Ichigo's question.
"To be honest, Nothing guarantees that if you kill him, things will go back to normal. Our family and friends might just see us as murderers and hate us. They might just keep on believing that we're insane."
Ginjou's tone started as calm, but soon changed to almost the same one as Ichigo's
"But, regardless of whether the spell vanished or not… the only way to sever the ties Tsukishima made with them… is to kill him!" Ginjou said, shocking Ichigo with the sudden change. "Can you do it? Can you really kill him even if you don't know what will happen afterwards?"
Ginjou asked Ichigo, but before he could answer, they heard footsteps approach them.
"Ah, what an unpleasant discussion…" The voice came from Yukio, who walked from behind a pillar.
"H-how did you find this place!?" Ginjou immediately asked him.
"Why? What are you saying? It's always like this." Yukio lifted his console up, causing a black pixelized triangular creature emerge from Ginjou's jacket, which returned to the console. "We made it so that even when we are apart, we are able to know where each other are. As I thought… you must not be in your right mind, Kuugo."
Ginjou and Ichigo had similar surprised faces, but their shock was increased further when Yukio smiled at them instead. The smile was different, it lacked any form of hostility, rather, it was a peaceful and sympathetic one.
"Well, let's go back. Don't worry, Tsukishima-san and we aren't angry at you. Actually, we feel sorry. But it's ok, we'll fix you soon." Yukio said.
…
"It's here." Yukio said, referring to a mansion hidden in the woods seemingly belonging to Tsukishima.
"So, he's in there." Ichigo said.
The mansion's doors suddenly opened, courtesy of Tuskishima.
"Hiya." He greeted.
"Tsukishima…!" Ichigo immediately drew out his badge and charged towards Tsukishima, but was stopped by Ginjou.
"Wait! Don't just attack him without thinking! If his ability is what we think it is, then get one cut from him and you're finished!"
"Please relax. I am unarmed." Tsukishima held out both of his arms, revealing the absence of his sword or book. "I don't want to fight you. Let's talk inside."
"As if I'd enter a house that might have traps somewhere." Ichigo replied.
"I hope you're joking. If I wanted you to fall into some trap, I would have laid them in the forest."
"Exactly as he said." Yukio said as he made his way to the mansion. "Come on, just enter."
Ichigo and Ginjou finally complied and entered the mansion. Upon Ichigo's entrance though, they were met by the cheerings of Yuzu, Karin, Mizuiro, Keigo, Tatsuki and Ikumi.
"Welcome Back!" Everyone cheered, greatly surprising Ichigo and disturbing Ginjou.
"What's that shocked face? You should be happy!" Ikumi said as she approached Ichigo.
"Hey, Ichigo…!" Ginjou tried to talk some sense to him, but he was too shocked to even hear him.
"Shuu-chan isn't angry at all!"
"Aren't you happy, Ichigo?"
"Shuu-san is really kind."
"You should really apologize right away."
Once again, the voices of his friends and family swarmed his thoughts and clouded his judgment.
"Don't worry, Ichigo. They think Tsukishima is their friend, but they also think you are too. They won't attack you suddenly. Stay calm." Ginjou whispered to him, but Ichigo was seemingly deafened by the shock's impact.
That was all it took to make Ichigo to run away again.
"Damn! He couldn't take it…?" Ginjou thought as he watched Ichigo flee.
…
Ichigo quickly exited the room and ran inside the mansion.
"Crap! I want to kill Tsukishima right now…! But fighting him there would be stupid! If I do, everyone will be dragged in! Everyone! Yuzu, Karin, Tatsuki, Mizuiro, Keigo, Ikumi-san…! Everyone…!"
He quickly spotted a door at the end of the hallway and rushed towards it. Upon entering however, he was met by Giriko, Jackie and Riruka waiting inside.
"Oh, good. You seem to be doing fine." Giriko greeted him.
"More than enough, I see. I'm relieved." Tsukishima said after he suddenly appeared beside Ichigo.
Ichigo attempted to run outside the door but Tsukishima quickly reappeared in front of it.
"What, I thought you hated me, but maybe I was mistaken. You even came all the way here just to be with us."
Tsukishima's statements were cut short though, when the wall behind him gets destroyed, from which Ginjou emerged, holding his sword.
"I destroyed the stairs. No one except Yukio will be able to go up here. So now, we don't have to hold back anymore." Ginjou said before turning to Ichigo. "Fight all out! Ichigo!"
That was all Ichigo needed to know. He instantly activated his Fullbring and dashed towards Tsukishima at blinding speeds. Tsukishima activated his own Fullbring and used his sword to slash at Ichigo precisely, but he was no longer there.
"What…" That was all Tsukishima was able to say before his arm was completely severed from his body. He looked at Ichigo intently, who was now back in his original position. "So that's your Fullbring!? You got quite better in just a short time!"
"Should I take that as a compliment? Well, you better talk now while you still can." Ichigo replied, full of confidence. "I came here to kill you."
Ichigo got ready to finish Tsukishima off, but was forced to jump back when something seemingly crashed through the wall. Upon the smoke's disappearance, two figures were in front of Tsukishima in a defensive stance, namely, Inoue and Chad.
"Twin Sacred Return Shield" Inoue chanted, immediately reattaching Tsukishima's arm back to his body.
"Inoue, stop. Don't heal his arm…" Ichigo, now full of confusion, attempted to stop Inoue. She only looked at him in utter disappointment, greatly surprising him.
"As usual, your healing power is superb." Tsukishima commented as he moved his restored arm around.
"Thank you!" Inoue cheerfully replied.
Ichigo directed his gaze towards Chad, who was still standing in front of Tsukishima.
"Chad… so you're also like them?" Ichigo asked him.
"I don't understand what you mean by like them. I'm more confused by the fact that you're different. Ichigo, why are you doing this?" Chad replied.
"Kurosaki-kun… did you forget how many times Tsukishima-san has helped you so far?" Inoue attempted to remind Ichigo. "He helped you save Kuchiki-san… and you said it yourself that you wouldn't have able to defeat Aizen without his help!"
"It's all thanks to Tsukishima-san, isn't it?" Chad added.
By this point, Ichigo was no longer surprised. He felt like he used up every last drop of his ability to be surprised. He only stared at his brainwashed friends in utter disbelief.
"Do you… understand now, Ichigo?" Tsukishima said, who suddenly appeared behind Ichigo.
Ichigo made a backhand slash at Tsukishima but he easily dodged it.
"Ichigo!" Ginjou attempted to help Ichigo but was cut short when a chandelier fell down towards him, forcing him to block it with his sword.
"Aren't we you opponents? I really don't think you have time to worry about other people." Said Shishigawara Moe, who entered from one of the holes.
"Why is he…? Did he drop this to the floor? How did he do it?" Ginjou thought while examining the fallen chandelier before turning to Moe again. "It doesn't look like he has tools hidden somewhere… plus, the chain of the chandelier isn't even broken. It fell down because every single nail was removed. This guy… What's his Fullbring…?"
Ichigo manages to block a slash from Tsukishima but is sent reeling back from the force.
"In SF novels, people sometimes go back to the past and make the future take a different turn." Tsukishima said while slowly walking towards Ichigo. "If you tamper with something, it's usually the future that changes. That's because time flows from the past towards the future. However, my Book of the End… is able to make people's past take a different turn."
Tsukishima pauses for a while before continuing his detailed explanation of his Fullbring.
The reason this is possible is because my ability doesn't control time or memories. It makes me able to actually insert my own self inside people's pasts in any way I wish." Tsukishima stops, both talking and walking, upon reaching the space directly in front of Ichigo.
"So what Ginjou supposed is the truth… " Ichigo murmured while he stands up.
"Ginjou guessed my ability?" Tsukishima said in surprise, which in turn, surprised Ichigo. "I'm surprised, I guess I underestimated him. I thought he was more stupid than that." He reverted back to his calm expression and readied his blade. "Anyway, I guess it's sad, but I want you to understand. The past you experienced is different from the one they experienced."
"Tsk. Stop talking in a roundabout manner. Just say how things are. With your ability, you turned their past into something different." Ichigo said.
"That is not correct." Tsukishima answered. "It wasn't turned into something different. All of them, except for you, have spent their life so far with me. You're the only one living a wrong past."
The bomb was dropped, and the damage cannot be undone, especially to Ichigo. Tsukishima's words were enough to shatter his spirit.
"But don't worry." Tsukishima continued. "I will make sure that your feelings disappear altogether."
Ichigo was frozen in place, unable to move. Tsukishima took this chance and dashed towards Ichigo, sword in hand.
"I can't move… but when I think about it, why bother? Nobody trusts me anymore… I'm all alone…" Ichigo thought as he saw the approaching figure of his opponent. "Here it comes…"
To his surprise however, a familiar pink wave of Reiatsu came crashing through the wall and towards Tsukishima, who was forced to jump away.
"What…" Ichigo managed to say before a flash of black appeared in front of him.
"You idiot! What are you standing around for?" A familiar voice said out loud, causing Ichigo to finally regain himself and leave his trance.
"Nozomi!"
Chapter 25. Tell me what you think if you have time! Alright, stay awesome guys. Mata ne.