Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, or any of the characters…unfortunately…

"Ichigo keep on running, and never look back. Even if you fall climb back up, and even if you are heavily outnumbered with only your two fists to defend yourself, you must fight. That's what it takes to be a man."

There was silence between the two. Even without words they understood the answer. There was no question to begin with. They both knew what the answer was from the very start.

"Old man!" snapped Ichigo without looking back.

Zangetsu didn't bother replying.

"You bastard I already knew that without you telling me."

With that Ichigo dashed off into the blue light with the fiery determination in his eyes, a look that seemed to have died long ago.

Zangetsu watched him go. As soon as Ichigo left, he felt the whole in his hearth.

It was gone.

…

…

…

Ichigo opened his eyes, and a throbbing sensation in his chest welcomed him. He looked down, and saw a blade stuck through him. He was back.

"Ichigo, are you alright?" It was Chad, and Ichigo gave his friend a grin. There's no need to worry about me, thought Ichigo, I am…

…a man.

Ichigo slipped his hand to his chest, and grabbed the blade slowly sticking out. A burst of staggering light coursed through the blade, and crawled up his hand. The hollow gave a low groan as it felt its power being absorbed by Ichigo.

"Ichigo…" Chad simply muttered. He could do nothing. He had to trust his friend's actions.

There was an explosion of blue light, and Chad had to cover his eyes. When he lifted the arm protecting his vision, he was greeted by a whirlwind of smoke, and dust. Chad saw a shadow slowly emerge from the smoke screen, and took a fighting stance, ready to strike if it was an opponent. Slowly the figure made its way to Chad. It had the same appearance as the hollow. Black reiatsu clothed the figure, but this time it was in the shape of a kimono. His flickering robe of shadows distorted the light around him. The white reiatsu hovering around his waist remained there, but there was also a flashing wave of the same white reiatsu around his neck, forming some sort of scarf. Propped upon his shoulder was a huge black zanpakutou without a guard or a sheath. Chad instantly recognized it, it was Zangetsu. Something was different about it though, aside from the size increase. There was a captivating dragon pattern running along its smooth black surface, and the whole sword radiated blue, as if it's barely containing its enormous amount of power. The hollow masks with no eyes still covered his face, but the shock of orange hair totally gave it away. It was Ichigo, and he was more powerful than ever.

"Hey Chad…I'm back" said the new Ichigo.

"So it seems." Chad answered back. That was all he could say, right now he was speechless. He was awestruck.

Ichigo looked at Zangetsu, and couldn't help, but frown. "Why is it glowing like that?" asked Ichigo as he scratched his head. "It looks bigger too, but now it's even lighter than its bankai form…"

Chad smiled. Zangetsu glowing obviously means the extra reiatsu emerging from it. Despite Ichigo's many battles, he still hasn't learned to control his reiatsu. Although, having the tremendous energy that almost seems infinite is almost impossible to control, especially for Ichigo.

Chad was about to open his mouth to say more, but Ichigo interrupted him. "Chad, do you sense that?" Chad was confused at first, but after a minute he noticed it too. It was a hollow. Chad was impressed. It seems that Ichigo's senses have heightened as well. Perhaps it was because he absorbed the powers of a hollow giving Ichigo an advantage. Now, that Chad thinks about it, the reiatsu of the hollow that Ichigo absorbed seemed nonexistent at all, so how did Ichigo get this powerful? Why did that hollow have a zanpakutou in the first place? Before Chad could ponder any more, he noticed the numerous hollows crawling towards Karakura town.

"Shit!" Ichigo yelled. "Why are there so many hollows all of a sudden? On my first day back too? What if I got rusty?"

"You fool"

Chad and Ichigo both turned around to see a familiar Quincy along with a red haired girl.

"You're out of control reiatsu attracted them all here. Seriously should be able to control it by now Kurosaki" said Uryu Ishida. Ichigo frowned at this.

"Kurosaki kun! I'm so glad you're back! Now I can show you how much I've improved!" squealed Orihime, flashing Ichigo a victory sign.

Ichigo smirked, and looked at all his friends. Chad gave him a nod, and a grunt, Orihime was all smiles, and Uryu…well he has a half smile, and a frown going on.

"I'm sorry guys, but can you let me handle this on my own?" asked Ichigo, turning his back slightly to his friends.

"K-Kurosaki kun! You can't do that! You'll get hurt!" shrieked Orihime.

Uryu raised up his glasses to the bridge of his nose. "She is absolutely right Ichigo, there must be more than fifty hollows right now, and soon there'll be thousands. That reiatsu explosion you just unleashed did not go unnoticed to the hollows, and the soul society…"

There was silence, the only sound that could be heard were the screeching of hollows. "Chad, Inoue, Ishida…how many hollows have you guys fought when I was gone…" Ichigo muttered.

Uryu stared at him. "How are we supposed to…"

"How many?"

Uryu paused uncertain if he should answer. "About one thousand…"

Ichigo raised his head, and held Zangetsu tighter. "How many hollows are going to fill Karakura town…"

Uryu knew where this was going. "About one thousand…"

Ichigo swung Zangetsu creating a gust of air, and the destruction of several buildings as he swung the dark blade. Uryu couldn't help, but be impressed by Ichigo's newfound power. With just one swing Ichigo several hollows, and…some private property. "Reckless jerk" muttered Uryu.

Ichigo turned back to his friends. "Consider this as payback for the time I was gone."

With that Ichigo flew up to the sky, his scarf of reiatsu flowing behind him, making him appear as a guardian angel.

Well it fits him; he is Karakura town's #1 guardian.

Ichigo gets his powers back, but it's not easy strolling from here. Greater enemies and threats await him. Oh by the way, how do guys feel about OC's? Do you hate them, like them? Would you mind if I gave Ichigo, and the other's new powers, and upgrades? Please tell me your opinion so I know what to write. Review please! I want to hear you suggestions!

Cheers!

-MC kun