Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. I only own what I am typing and nothing else.

The rain had stopped, and the skies that were grey were now pierced by a shock of blue. The sky scrapers stood high and mighty signifying only in the confidence increase of the master of this world. Zangetsu stood over it all. The sight was something so rare, and he admired every precious second of it. If he blinked or even dared look away for one second, he was afraid that it would all go away. He knew the dangers of giving Ichigo those powers, and he knew the consequences for breaking the fragile laws of reality. Perhaps Zangetsu was selfish, he just wanted Ichigo to be happy, but that happiness comes with a huge burden. That power came with an enormous danger.

Zangetsu felt the spot where the hole was on his chest. Was it really worth it?

"Zangetsu, can I go now?"

Zangetsu didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Yes you have fulfilled your duty. Thank you for what you've done despite the consequences.

A figure draped with a cloak of black reiatsu walked beside Zangetsu. "I had to do what I had to do."

Zangetsu looked at the figure. "You didn't want to do it?"

The black figure returned Zangetsu's gaze. "All I know is that even in this body void of emotions, I still feel that I have to protect him." It touched the hole in its chest. "The bond is still here even after my evolution."

Zangetsu scoffed. "Evolution you say, for the price of becoming 'that' you lost your emotions. I can hardly call that an even trade."

There was silence between the two as they looked up at the piercing blue skies.

"You should hurry up to your own time plane. Who knows how many time anomalies you've caused by coming here?"

The figure cloaked in black smiled. "A being such as I can surpass time itself."

Zangetsu raised his eyes in shock. "Don't tell me…" He paused composing himself. "What other powers came with you're…'evolution'"

The figure merely smiled. "You can tamper with your clock by moving its arms, but it doesn't necessarily alter reality. Zangetsu remember. Time is merely reality. All we time lords can do is conceal it."

"Wait time lord?" Before Zangetsu could get an answer, he was gone.

In the real world

"More please!" yelled Renji Abarai as he finished devouring his dish.

"Okay, more rice for the moocher" said Tessai Tsukabishi. Renji glared at him, but only managed to mutter a weak "I'm not a moocher."

Ururu handed Renji a bowl full of rice. "Here you go…" Renji smiled at Ururu and thanked her.

"…moocher" muttered Ururu.

After dinner was over, Ichigo noticed that Rukia wasn't in the room. Probably outside, he thought.

He was right; Rukia was on the roof of Urahara's store, gazing at the stars. He glanced at her face; it was thoughtful and filled with doubt. Ichigo noticed that he hadn't talked to Rukia that much since they met earlier. Maybe now was the perfect time since they're alone?

Rukia noticed Ichigo staring at her from below. "Ichigo want to come up here?" she asked.

A small smile escaped from Ichigo's lips. "Sure"

For a while they said nothing while gazing at the stars. The heavenly bodies looked so clear and majestic that night; the mood was almost…romantic? Ichigo shook his head, and tried to start a conversation.

"So um, Rukia, I heard you're a lieutenant now, that's pretty cool" Cool? What was he thinking? Of course it's cool what kind of compliment was that?

Rukia tilted her head to the right a bit. "You think it's cool? Well I guess that's a huge compliment coming from you."

Ichigo scowled at her but he knew where she was coming from. "You know me so well it's almost scary."

Rukia laughed. "Ichigo I know everything about you both body and soul."

Ichigo blushed at the mention of 'body' and Rukia must have realised what she said because the silence returned. The two of them didn't mind the silence though. They just lied down and enjoyed the galactic show up above.

"Ichigo, can I have a moment of your time?" said a joyful voice.

Ichigo turned around to see the Kisuke Urahara. It's been a while since Ichigo spoke with the mysterious show owner and to be honest, Ichigo couldn't trust him. Aside from his laidback personality and his somewhat silly looks, he was a dangerous man. It was Urahara's seal that ultimately finished off Aizen, well of course he couldn't have done it if Ichigo didn't deal fatal injuries to Aizen, but Urahara was still technically the one who finished off Aizen. Ichigo knows that Urahara has helped him many times, but he still had doubts about the man.

Ichigo followed Urahara to the seemingly endless training grounds under the store. Ichigo still wonders how Urahara built that thing. Great, another thing I don't know about Urahara, thought Ichigo.

Ichigo noticed that Tessai was setting something up, but he couldn't tell what it was. Beside him was a black woman with cat like features. It's Shihouin Yurouichi!

"Hey there Ichigo ready to have some fun?" said the infamous 'Flash step goddess'.

Ichigo didn't like the sound of that. "Do I have a damn choice?"

Yurouichi grinned. "Of course you don't now let me see that new power of yours"

Ichigo took out his substitute soul reaper badge and stared at it. How the hell do you activate it? Ichigo did it how he normally transform into his soul reaper form and put the badge to his hearth. The badge started heating up until the heat was unbearable. Before Ichigo could drop it, a stream of jet black reiatsu escaped from his badge and overtook him. Ichigo felt the indescribable feeling of power that enveloped him. In less than two seconds he was in the form that he recently discovered. What the form was exactly even the wielder didn't know. The blade in his hands was in the form of Zangetsu so that was reassuring enough. Ichigo had a feeling that he could trust his newfound powers though. Unlike his inner hollow powers, his new power had a feeling of familiarity residing within it. It smelled like Zangetsu, but there was a certain odour that lingered about. A faint smell of sadness and despair lingered the black aura.

Ichigo snapped back into reality when he noticed Yurouichi inspecting him. "Hm…not bad, it looks cooler than your old one I suppose."

Ichigo scowled. "If you're dead it doesn't matter if you look cool or not."

Yurouichi gave Ichigo a teasing smile. "You're so lame Ichigo, I feel bad for Rukia. She met you after all those months and you barely talked for two minutes. What a shame."

Ichigo could feel his face heating up slightly. "What the hell? You were listening?"

Yurouichi grinned. "We all were, even the serious guy with the glasses. We were even betting on what you were going to do. Thanks to your cowardice, I lost a fair amount of money. I think Orihime chan won"

"What…did you think I was going to say?" asked Ichigo, trying to hide his curiosity.

"I thought you were finally going to fck her" said Yurouichi nonchalantly.

Ichigo was certain he was burning red now. "What the hell!" Even if he did that sort of thing what would Byakuya do six months from now? Could soul reapers even have kids?

"Miss Yurouichi! The battle grounds are ready" said Mr. Tesai. So he was making a battle ground? What for?

Yurouichi led Ichigo to the so called battle ground. All it really was were branches encircling a clear area of sand. It wasn't anything like the coliseum.

Ichigo found himself in one side of the makeshift battle ground and on the other side were Yurouichi and Urahara. Ichigo was startled to see the branches stuck to the ground shake and emit a pale white burst of energy into the air. As they merged, the brilliant light formed into a sphere that surrounded the battle ground. What the hell was that, thought Ichigo, are there any more surprises?

"Ichigo why don't you show me what your new powers can do?" said Urahara with his eyes hidden behind his trademark hat.

Before Ichigo could respond, Urahara unsheathed his zanpakutou Benihime.

"Bankai…"

Ichigo couldn't believe what he saw next.

Oh crap…

The 7th possibility realm:

A certain figure cloaked with jet black reiatsu stood before the ultimate judge known only as The Law.

"Do you realise your crimes? Not only did you break a rift in time, but you handed over technology to a human from the 4th realm. Do you realise what's waiting for you?"

The dark figure nodded. "Yes your honour."

"What awaits you…Zangetsu?" said The Law.

"…death."

The Law was about to lay down the hammer permanently erasing the existence of the broken zanpakutou in front of him, but he had to ask one more question.

"Have you made any contact to any one else besides the human wielding the SEED?" asked The Law.

Zangetsu didn't answer, earning him a shock from the chains he was tied up with.

After several more shocks, he muttered an answer. "The 4th Zangetsu"

"Are you insane?"

"No, just crazy."

"That shall be your final words." The law laid down his mighty hammer. "My word is absolute, it doesn't bear lies. You are finished, Zangetsu."

Suddenly, there was nothing but darkness.

…

…

…

Back to the real world (4th possibility realm):

Ichigo lay on the ground, he has never been more exhausted in his life. At least he was doing better than his opponent.

Urahara had a painful wound on his left shoulder. It wasn't fatal, but it was extremely painful.

"I can't believe that you don't even know how to use your powers yet Kurosaki" muttered Urahara while he was being attended to by Yurouichi.

Ichigo still couldn't believe what happened. Every time Urahara got near to striking him, the black reiatsu would react to Ichigo's instincts and defend him. Urahara explained that the cloak was connected to Ichigo's subconscious, and his instincts. So his whole body is a weopon now huh? Ichigo imagined what it would be like to have full control of his black armor. It would be nearly impossible to even land a blow on Ichigo, but he has the focus power of an eight year old, so that's out of the question for now.

Urahara had suggested that a way for Ichigo to control his power is to make an image in his mind, and portray it with his reiatsu cloak. Ichigo concentrated all his might into the image of a shield. Before he knew it, a black shield formed on his arm. It was gone in three seconds. Ichigo's attention span wasn't the best.

Ichigo also found it a struggle to maintain the shape of his cloak. Before it was perfectly fine, but now that Ichigo found out that the cloak was controlled by his thoughts, he found himself having troubles keeping it in a normal shape. Ichigo guessed that when he didn't know, his subconscious was controlling it, but now that he does, he was to focus all the time just to keep his form up.

Why are his new powers so complicated? Ichigo remembered the days when his only attack was Getsuga Tenshou. It was so simple, he would yell out his attack's name, swing his sword and the enemy would be dead. Now it was a whole new ordeal. Maybe his new powers just don't suit him?

"Ichigo, your powers are very mysterious indeed. I have never seen anything like it, and I am sure that your powers hold more secrets, secrets that are beyond my imagination."

"So even you don't know what to do? Great, what the hell am I suppose to do now?" complained Ichigo.

Urahara took of his hat and stroked his pale blonde hair. "Why don't we ask the greatest teacher so far?"

"The greatest teacher…you mean."

Suddenly, the blade in Ichigo's hands started shaking and becoming hot. Ichigo let go of it, and watched as the dark blade spin wildly in the air. A flash of white light filled the entire room, and when the blade finally descended to the ground, it's form has been replaced to that of a human.

"Hello Ichigo...I need to talk to you about the SEED."

End

I'm so sorry that it took like four days before I could update. I have no excuses just plain old procrastination. Well, anyways, look forward to the next chapter!

Cheers!

-MC Kun