2/3
.
Kisuke woke to the feel of daggers dragging down his skin. He hissed and swatted a fluffy appendage away, his eyes tracing the annoyed flick of a tail. Golden eyes bore into him, claws kneading on his stomach as Yoruichi spoke, wasting no time.
"Why did I have to hear from a secondhand source that my dearest" her claws tightened, drawing a thin line of blood. "Friend had come to soul society to speak with the soutaichou?"
Kisuke gulped, wishing he had his fan near him as he stared down at his long time friend who was looking at him with bristling black fur.
"Ah Yoruichi-san!" He plastered on his goofy smile, ignoring how her claws flexed. "It was quite last minute you see, I was caught off guard."
Golden eyes narrowed but he felt her claws retreat into the pads of her toes.
"Oh? Do tell."
Kisuke hesitated for less than a moment, but Yoruichi had been with him far too long to know all of his subtle tics. She frowned, knowing he wouldn't hide things from her unless necessary.
"What is it Kisuke?" She moved off his stomach and made herself comfortable next to his side, her gaze now curious.
Kisuke sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, his false smile falling away. He glanced out the window and noted that it was still dark out, he couldn't have gotten more than a few hours of sleep. He debated on telling her, his loyalty to his friend was strong but he was also unwilling to displease a god. Thankfully, Yoruichi didn't pester him, knowing that he needed to sort his brain out.
Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that if Ichigo didn't want him to tell Yoruichi, he would have told him as much. Ichigo knew Kisuke and Yoruichi were a package deal, both having gone through too much with each other to not be able to confide in heavy secrets.
"I met a god" he stated simply, knowing it was best to just get it out in the open. He was too tired to give riddles and banter. He glanced at her and saw she was looking at him with wide eyes, her pupils blown open and tail thrashing.
Kisuke continued once it seemed she processed the information just enough. "He is an old god, his essence was scattered until now." Kisuke waited as Yoruichi opened and closed her mouth several times, her little fangs peeking through. With a blink, she had composed herself and wore a from on her face to cover her confusion.
"But how did you come to meet him? Why you? Why would a god, in his weakened state no doubt, go to you?"
It was an honest question and Kisuke couldn't fault Yoruichi for thinking it. He would have also been the last choice. This was different though.
"He knows us Yoruichi, we know him."
The black cat stood and began pacing around the room, her ears drawn back. She paused and turned from the floor and back to him, her forehead furrowed. "Why now?"
Kisuke blinked, surprised that she hadn't demanded his identity but shrugged it off and plowed on. "Like I said, he got his powers back. With them came his memory."
She nodded at him as if accepting the answer and sat back down again, her eyes focused on the floor. Kisuke felt his brows furrow as he watched her, noting the tension held in her tiny form and the way her fur was ruffled and on end.
"You're not going to ask who?" She didn't respond. Kisuke folded his legs, patiently waiting.
Her voice was uncharacteristically low when she did speak. "Is it weird, that I'm almost scared to find out?"
He shook his head immediately. "No, I understand what you mean."
Yoruichi nodded and gazed up at him, her body going lax, as if accepting the situation with as much grace as she could muster. "Okay, who?"
Kisuke pursed his lips and wished he had his camera on him. "Ichigo"
A choked off yowl filled the air and Kisuke had to try very hard to hold back the bubbling laughter. Her fur was bristled, back arched, and Kisuke wondered if he could ger her to pose like that for him on Halloween.
"You have to be joking!" She was pacing again, her breathing coming in fast. "I- HOW!"
Kisuke shrugged helplessly. "It hasn't been long, I don't have all the answers yet." The room descended into quiet once more and the blonde yawned, flopping back down on his futon and dragging his covers up. He would let Yoruichi deal with the rest, he was too tired to care. He jerked when a paw swatted at his face and he grumbled under his breath. Grey eyes opened reluctantly, and he gave her a halfhearted glare.
"You said he was an old god," she paused, hesitating. "What is he the god of?"
Kisuke debated on waiting to tell her. He really wanted his camera. She swatted at him again and this time let her claws graze across his face, just enough to warn.
He yawned and stubbornly tucked the sheets under his chin, staring at her lazily. "Tsukuyomi."
A golden eye twitched. Yoruichi pointedly turned away and hopped onto the windowsill, her tail a thrashing blur behind her. "Sleep Kisuke."
He obeyed without complaint.
Ichigo hummed as he padded down the halls of the 13th division, his gaze flickering from the sprawling gardens to the small training grounds that separated them. Men yelled in unison as they performed their exercises, some groups clearly more advanced than the others. He knew where the captain's quarters were located, but he wasn't here to ask about Rukia. Not today anyways. He absently wondered if the two older Shinigami would be able to tell if something was off about him. They were old yes, but still far younger than Yamamoto. Ichigo supposed that the only way to find out was to go talk to them. It would make what he was about to do easier if they could tell by themselves.
Ichigo knocked on the shoji door that he came upon and waited patiently, hearing Shunsui's loud snores even from outside.
"Come in," Ukitake's naturally kind voice filtered through, and Ichigo stepped in, nodding to him in greeting.
"Hey, Ukitake-san."
The white haired man looked up at the sound of his voice and froze momentarily, his eyes crinkling at the edges. It was not the welcome Ichigo had expected but it was something. He waited patiently as the man assessed him and saw a rare frown mar his face.
"Ichigo?" His voice was questioning but there was a hard edge to it that would have made him nervous before. As if sensing the change in the air, Shunsui snapped his eyes open and immediately locked onto him. He stiffened and sat up, his eyes narrowed even as he wore a cautious smile on his face.
"Ma, ma Kurosaki-san, what brings you here?" Shunsui placed his straw hat back on his head but Ichigo didn't miss how his eyes never left him.
"Ah, you notice a difference I presume?" Ichigo internally winced, knowing he wasn't exactly speaking like the teenager he had been. It didn't go unnoticed either if Ukitake's tight smile was anything to go by.
"A difference," Shunsui hummed. "You could say that. If you wanted to impersonate someone though, you should at least make the reiatsu closer to the original." Brown eyes bore into him, assessing.
Ichigo bit his lip, slowly raising his hands up in surrender and trying to tell them he meant no harm. "I already spoke to Yama-jii, if you want you can ask him yourself. I can wait."
The two exchanged a quick look before Ukitake brought a butterfly to his face, whispering a message and watching as it fluttered off. Ichigo nodded to him in thanks and plopped down on the floor where he stood, watching the stack of paperwork on Ukitake's desk warily.
"What brings you here." Shunsui spoke, his gaze searching.
Ichigo was fine with that, he knew the two captains didn't exactly trust him yet, thinking he was someone else. It only made sense for him to try to gather his motives just in case his story didn't line up.
"I'm here to talk to Ukitake actually," as he spoke another butterfly fluttered in and a smile split the white-haired man's face as he finished listening to the message.
"Sorry Ichigo," he started. "You just felt…off." Ukitake gave him a kind smile, prompting Kyoraku to relax.
Ichigo gave him a small smile back, nodding in understanding. "I know, its fine."
The tension drained away from the room and Shunsui patted the seat next to him. "Come, the floor can't be that comfortable."
Once they were resettled, Ichigo ran a hand though his hair and let out a sigh, deciding that he would have to be truthful with them if he wanted to help.
"I need you two to listen, Yamamoto is already informed about this," Ichigo gestured to himself. "Can you put up a barrier?"
Shunsui furrowed his brows but obliged, muttering the spell under his breath. Once Ichigo felt it encase the room he began again.
"I-" he paused, debating, before deciding to just dive in. He blamed his most recent life for his impatience. "I have been through the cycle of reincarnation for several millennia, regathering my strength. My memories have come back recently."
They both stared at him with dumbfounded and almost disbelieving expressions. They exchanged another silent look and motioned for him to continue. He took that as a good sign.
"My familiars waited for me at the end of each life, seeing if I would be able to remember before they helped me back to my true self." Ichigo pursed his lips and tilted his head to the side, his orange hair feathering across his face. He looked towards the window, admiring the early morning light that shone through before turning to Ukitake, carefully avoiding his gaze.
"In short, I have always been a god, but I had no memory of it. My soul was too weak and my powers took too long to regather because of the nature of my domain." He silently nodded to himself and his familiars spoke words of encouragement in his mind. He pretended not to notice the look Ukitake and Shunsui both exchanged once more, the silent conversation they seemed to have.
"Yama-jii knows?" The gentle captain asked almost hesitantly. Ichigo nodded in confirmation. The man sighed and a weary smile stretched across his face. "I believe it then, far stranger has happened to me after all." Shunsui nodded his agreement at the statement.
A frown twisted at Ichigo's lips and he decided that was the opening he needed. "That's actually what I'm here to talk about. Mimihagi." He ignored how they both stiffened at the name and continued. "The thing inside you is no god, it's a parasite that needed your reiatsu to survive. I want to take it out."
Shunsui was on his feet in an instant, his gaze hard. "Ichigo, do you understand what you're saying!?"
He nodded, having expected the anger. "A god doesn't need an exchange, that is no god." He moved his gaze from the bristling Shunsui to the pale Ukitake. "I don't need such an exchange. Not for you. I'll kill Mimihagi and you'll live fully, healthily." His voice was firm in this, he would not let Ukitake refuse him because one way or another, the piece of the false god had to die. It just happened to be a bonus that Ukitake would also be cured from it.
Brown eyes looked at him hesitantly, as if he wanted to believe Ichigo but still held reservations. "Ichigo, can-" the captain of the 13th paused, as if realizing what he was asking. "Can you prove it to us first? Forgive me for questioning you but-"
Ichigo waved him off and nodded, standing from the couch and pausing beside a disbelieving Shunsui. Ichigo couldn't blame him, the man cared for his friend more than his own life. He stilled momentarily and scratched the back of his head, a light dust of pink on his cheeks.
"Ah, actually I don't know what I should do?" He let out a half laugh, shifting on his feet now that he had to present himself to them fully.
"Something easy?" Shunsui suggested and took a step back from him, giving him space.
Zangetsu fluttered an idea through his head and he almost smacked himself. Without warning, he brought his hands up in front of him and tugged at the fabric of the universe. The air grew heavy with his power and he absently noticed Shunsui fall to his knees. Ukitake was hunched over his desk and they were both breathing heavily.
"Watch," Ichigo commanded, his voice distorted. Reality rippled in front of them, and Ichigo manipulated the room, making the floorboards turn sideways, the very grain in them moving to his will. The couch he had just sat upon slowly lost its earthly color, turning white and the threads puffing back out into the cotton they had been made from. Strips of wood began to peel and curl off the walls, the roof groaning under the strain.
Enough, Ichigo.
He stilled, the voice of his familiar was unrelenting, and he blinked away his haze of power, calling it back into himself. He looked towards the two men and realized why he was told to stop. Without his real knowing, he had begun to unwind what made them. He could see it in how their clothes had begun to fray and shift, but thankfully their bodies were intact. It had been too long since he was forced to deal with mortals, and with the full knowledge of who he was, their fragility was already a fleeting thought in his mind. It was a disturbing realization.
Shunsui stood on shaky legs, glancing at his black uniform and where it was unstitched to the curled walls and rearranged wood of the floor. His gaze previously disbelieving now held hope as he took in a shuddering breath. A wide smile was on Ukitake's lips as he gazed at Ichigo, standing stiffly to walk to his side.
"Amazing," brown eyes looked at him reverently and Ichigo scowled.
"Don't look at me like that." He forced his gaze away, frown deepening when Ukitake seemed bewildered. "Come on lets get this over with." He sat on the floor where he stood and gestured for the white-haired man to do the same. Shunsui sat close to his best friend and placed his large hand on his shoulder in comfort.
"This might hurt." Ichigo spoke even as he reached forward, glad that the man didn't flinch away. He lay his hand flat against Ukitake's chest, furrowing his brows as he felt the false god nibble away at his lifeforce. He sneered, his eyes darkening in anger. In his mindscape, his familiars boiled with rage, their howling voices begging for vengeance. Ichigo took in a calming breath and plunged his hand into Jushiro's soul, the man going ridged, every muscle tense as he grit his teeth in pain. He absently noticed Shunsui grip his friend tightly by the shoulders, helping him stay upright even as he watched on in horror.
Ichigo didn't let it deter him, knowing the man would be better off once he was done. Minihagi was clutching to the fraying edges of the reality he had seeped himself into, trying to hide further in the man's soul. Unfortunately for him, Ichigo was one of the elder gods and very few could ever hope to run from his wrath. He gripped the slimy appendage and let his power burst at his palm, scorching the thing from the inside and healing the damage done. A flash of light burst forth from Jushiro's chest and he screamed in agony, his body convulsing.
Not a moment later did he hear the door slam open and frantic voices wafted in. He heard his name called but ignored it, making his presence heavy and blocking anyone but Shunsui and Jushiro from approaching him. A few agonizing seconds later and Jushiro slumped forward, breathing hard. His body was covered in a sheen of sweat and Ichigo removed his hand from his chest, making sure he put more of his power into the man's lungs to help them heal faster.
Shunsui shot him a worried look but he smiled in reassurance. "He's fine. He should feel better than ever in a few moments."
This was a win-win, Jushiro was free from his illness and Ichigo got the first taste of his vengeance. Minihagi's spirit had burned black under his righteous fury, his touch scorching. But unfortunately, he no longer had the element of surprise, the spirit king no doubt felt that part of him burned away. It didn't matter either way, the false god would die, but not by his hands.
Ichigo stood and turned, facing the startled third seats and a wide-eyed Rukia. "He's going to be fine. Sorry but I can't stay." He nodded at them and brushed passed, glancing over his shoulder to see Ukitake give him a weak smile in thanks.
He left the thirteenth division, wondering how much of his plan he should inform the soutaichou of. He pursed his lips, his thoughts trailing towards those he knew that were loyal to him. It would be difficult to inform the ancient man, even more so than what he had told him of already. Ichigo groaned and slammed his palm against his face, dragging it down in exasperation.
"Maa Kurosaki-san. You seem frustrated."
Ichigo snorted and turned to meet Kisuke's gaze. The man was still a ways off and had his fan hiding his face. The shadows his hat cast were enough to cover his eyes and Ichigo rolled his own as he met up with him in some random street of Seireitei.
"Yeah yeah. Shit's complicated." He frowned and wondered if Kisuke could help him by being impartial. "Hey, if I wanted to introduce a long time enemy of soul society as one of my followers, how well do you think the old man would take it?" Ichigo watched as Urahara's brows rose high on his head, a smile curling at the edges of his lips.
"I'd say," the blonde stepped forward, flapping his fan absently as he looked up towards the clear sky, grey eyes alight with mirth. "That he would kill you for even suggesting it, however, considering your new status, that thought no longer applies." Kisuke flicked his eyes back towards him and the shadows of his hat covered his gaze when he tilted his head down. "In fact, I am quite positive he will shove aside any matters of his opinions and do as you say. After all, as strange as it feels to say this, you are the elder and therefore must be wiser. In his mind anyways." His fan snapped shut and he tucked his arms into the sleeves of his haori, bending forward and into his personal space. Ichigo didn't move away.
"Now why would you ask?"
Ichigo could see the intense curiosity in the man and he was almost impressed at how calm he sounded. He pursed his lips, debating on whether or not to tell him before deciding against it. He turned around and motioned for him to follow, still hating how Kisuke insisted on walking a step behind him.
"I suppose you'll find out, but not yet, not here."
There was silence between them for a few moments, only the whistle of the wind and ruffling of leaves audible.
"Is it about Aizen?"
Ichigo purposefully didn't look back, but he smirked at his teacher's inability to hold back his curiosity, knowing his answer would only make the man more curious than he already was.
"No."
Yamamoto leaned heavily against his cane, watching through slitted eyes as his captains and lieutenants filtered in through the great double doors. He had called a meeting via hell butterfly after confirming with the new god that he was fine being introduced. Yamamoto would hand over his zanpakuto to the keepers of hell before he let any of his men and woman disrespect the god. Unfortunately, in order for a such to happen the man would have to be paraded around, something he was distinctly aware Kurosaki Ichigo would have hated. Now though, he was unsure, but some ingrained fatherly instinct in him told him that the man would remain mostly the same in that aspect.
He let his gaze slide over to Shunsui and Jushiro, raising a silent brow at their beaming expressions and the delighted face Unohana had on as well. Clearly something big had happened, and judging from their faces, it was in the form of a lifted weight off their shoulders. Yamamoto flicked his eyes away and noted that everyone was now present, so he raised his cane and slammed it down with a bang, immediately silencing those in the room.
"We shall now commence this meeting!" He noted that his men stood straighter, their postures stiff with pride and eyes curious. It had been on short notice after all. He had briefly wondered if he should have waited for the god, but decided that if he wasn't here yet, then he obviously had something planned. After all, the man could apparently warp through reality itself.
"There has been a discovery made yesterday that will echo through the annals of the seiretti for millennia to come" he pointedly looked at captain Kuchiki, the clan head whose job it was to ensure the law and order be followed. Byakuya didn't disappoint, he swiftly withdrew parchment from within his haori and kneeled at his spot, quill at the ready and eyes slightly widened, the only sign of his surprise. The last time such things had occurred had been during the time of his grandfather when the zero squad had come from the royal realm and laid down new laws.
Satisfied with the young captain's response, he grunted and continued, meeting the gaze of each captain so they knew the seriousness of the situation. He truly didn't know how to break the news, how could he? Never in his lifetime had something like this occurred, and he bitterly knew why now. His hand tightened around his cane minutely and a flash of fire coursed through his bones at the mountain of deceit his society now laid upon. No, he couldn't think of it that way. He took a deep breath and several eyebrows rose at his obvious mood, now slightly worried about what they were going to hear.
He let the breath out and in that same moment, broke the tension. "A god has graced us with his presence." He noted how Byakuya jerked from his spot on the ground as well as heard the captains' collective gasp. Now, absolute silence reigned as they all stared at him with large eyes and mouths agape. The only ones who didn't seem to be as surprised were Jushiro and Shunsui.
When no one could even come up with a question or even a response, he plowed on, unwilling to talk through the chaos that was sure to erupt soon. "This meeting has been called to inform everyone to mind their tongue," he didn't think most of them needed it, but his gaze slipped to the frowning Kenpachi and he decided it would be better to warn them all regardless. He flared his reiatsu, making sure his sincerity and aggression were present in its swell, barring down on everyone in the room. "If I hear a rumor of disrespect towards him, I will have you before central 46 before you can finish your sentence." He opened his eyes fully, standing to his full height and bringing his reiatsu to crushing levels, ignoring how the lieutenants started to fall and how the captains quaked under the weight. He let up abruptly, but he could see his message was clear.
Earlier
Urahara observed as Ichigo walked with his head tilted back towards the sun, a slight smile on his face and hands tucked in his silver haori. The streets of the Seireitei were quiet and mostly deserted, and it seemed like whoever they passed did not recognize Ichigo for what he was. He wondered how he did that. He walked just a step behind him, so Kisuke was able to see the hell butterfly that came and fluttered in the breeze, patiently waiting for Ichigo to listen. A hand was lifted and the silver haori was pulled back to allow Ichigo's fingers to show in a graceful movement. Kisuke watched with open curiosity and raised brows as Ichigo's face twisted into a frown, his brows drawn down and jaw clenched. After a tense second, Ichigo released a breath as if resigning himself to something and tilted his head towards the butterfly, whispering his message.
Kisuke didn't realize it, but he had leaned forward into the orange haired man's space to try to hear, and when Ichigo turned to look at him, their eyes met instantly. They were close, too close. He froze, staring at molten silver, seeing his eyes for what they really were now that he was so near. The deeper her looked, the more it seemed like fabric twisting and sliding along in gentle crests, smaller lights becoming visible. The closest he could describe it as was an infinity mirror, but filled with silver metal and randomly spewed stars. Kisuke leaned in further, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw the glowing silver pools were in fact depthless.
A hand was suddenly over his eyes and Kisuke blinked behind it, clearing his vision and staggering, losing his balance if it were not for Ichigo's other hand on his shoulder. He took a deep breath he hadn't realized he needed and a claw of anxiety gripped him from nowhere.
"Shh, just breath." Ichigo's voice was soft and close, and Kisuke nodded shakily. He absently noticed his limbs trembling and he took in another uneasy breath. After a few minutes Ichigo removed his hand, his own eyes were closed, and he backed away a foot or two before opening them again. This time when Kisuke briefly met his gaze his eyes seemed normal besides the unusual color.
"What-" Kisuke cut himself off, unsure how to word his question.
Ichigo looked away from him, a frown twisting on his lips as he tucked his hands back in his haori. He spoke low and carefully, as if trying to not give too much away. "Mortals…" Ichigo trailed off briefly. "Should not look where their minds cannot handle."
Kisuke swallowed hard, seeing Ichigo in a new light. A part of him now realized that Ichigo was in fact far beyond them. He tried not to linger on how his limbs felt heavy or how his heart was still erratic, instead he forced his scientific mind to the forefront, chewing his lip over possibilities. "And what," he hesitated, suddenly unsure if he wanted the answer. A trait so unlike him that he was surprised at his own thought.
Ichigo seemed to pick up on how hard it was for him to talk because he looked back at him, purposefully keeping his gaze on his shoulder instead of meeting his eyes. "You most likely would have gone insane or died. Whichever comes first."
Silence reigned between them, and he wondered how such a thing could be possible.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo's quiet murmur was barely above the volume of a passing breeze, and he had to strain to hear it. "I forget myself." There seemed to be more that he wanted to say but Ichigo kept his lips tightly shut.
Kisuke raised a hand to his head, gripping the brim of his hat and nodded. "It's ok, Yoruichi always said I was too curious for my own good." He put on his teasing voice, trying to lift Ichigo's spirits but it seemed like it made him feel worse.
Silver clad shoulders slumped and Ichigo turned to walk away, pausing before speaking but refusing to look back at him. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, but I have to go back to visit someone sooner than I thought."
Ichigo was giving him an out, but Urahara was no coward. Even as he found himself moving to follow, he wondered why the man seemed so distraught. The silence between them stretched for several long moments as they walked along the bleached white streets of the seiretti, and by then, his limbs were back to normal and his heart steady. "Ichigo?" he murmured, continuing when he saw a nod of acknowledgment.
"I have faced death on numerous occasions, this was nothing new. You have nothing to feel bad about. It was an accident." Kisuke gripped his fan tight but didn't move to raise it. In his mind, Benihimie was humming in a hollow tone that brought a chill down his spine. He had never heard her sound like that before.
"I know." Ichigo nodded his head in agreement and Kisuke blinked, confused.
"Then why?" Kisuke's heart clenched oddly, his brows furrowing as he stared at the side of Ichigo's face that he could see. Silver eyes stared ahead resolutely, a grimace crossing his features. Loose locks of orange hair shifted in the next breeze and Ichigo paused, dropping his gaze to the floor.
"Your essence reaches for me, but it tries to hide itself away just as vigorously." Ichigo pinned him with silver eyes briefly, and Kisuke understood what he meant. Now that he had seen it, he felt existential dread well up inside of him when their eyes had locked. It was as if his very soul could feel the prospect of eternal nothingness.
"Oh."
"Yeah." Ichigo turned back and continued walking. Kisuke hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to keep going. He hadn't wanted to think of Ichigo too differently, but it seemed that had been a tall order. Still, he resolved himself to try.
. . . . . . . . .
It didn't take a genius like him to realize why they were in Muken. Even a toddler could have fit the pieces together. A part of him was weary, wondering if Ichigo was right about Aizen, but it was hard to argue the fact. After all, if Ichigo could feel his essence, he could probably detect any lie told to him. It was a nice quirk, but also terribly bothersome at the same time.
As they walked along the darkened halls, Kisuke wondered if he would be given the chance to speak with the traitor. Though, was he really a traitor now, or someone who had known the full truth? Kisuke sighed, letting out the heavy breath as they turned another corner. Just as they approached a solid metal door on the far side, Ichigo paused and gripped him on the shoulder before walking straight through it, forcing him along. Grey eyes widened as he phased through, unable to hide his surprise at the blatant manipulation of reality.
Now he stood in the cell, eyes flickering from Ichigo to the heavy iron door, trying to wrap his mind around the power. Maybe he wasn't quite ready for this.
Ichigo's groan of annoyance made him turn and Kisuke nearly stumbled at the scene. Aizen was unbound, the dark wrappings of Muken nowhere to be found. He still wore the white clothes that he had fought with, edges tattered and collar loose. Seeing an unbound Aizen still in Muken was enough of a shock, seeing him kneeling before Ichigo just put the cherry on the cake.
"You know when I said show your dedication, I didn't' mean it like this." Ichigo was scowling as he lifted Aizen up off the floor with a tug on his hand.
"Nonsense, I have always done as I pleased, and I will not waver in this." Even from the floor and kneeling to another, Aizen managed to look arrogant. Ichigo's eye twitched and he ran a hand through his bright hair, distinctly ignoring his last statement.
Kisuke on the other hand, was too stunned to speak. Dark brown eyes flicked over to him, and he narrowed his grey ones in response, gripping Benihime tightly.
"Urahara" Aizen drawled out his name, his voice condescending, as if he knew more. That wasn't entirely inaccurate, and it rubbed Urahara the wrong way. He was used to being the one with all the secrets.
"Aizen," Kisuke nodded to him, bringing his fan up to his face and watching under the brim of his hat. A twisted smile carved itself onto Aizen's face as he tilted his head back, looking down his nose at him.
"And now you know the truth." His voice was haughty, "I warned you, didn't I? That thing on the throne disgusts me." Aizen spat out the words with a seething hatred that make Kisuke jolt. The brunet's mouth formed into a sneer as he took a step towards the blonde. "Genius," Aizen's tone tuned mocking, his eyes narrowed into slits. "What a foolish word to be associated with you."
Urahara bristled momentarily but forced himself to relax, this was Aizen. This was his way of getting under people's skin. A heavy sigh made them look from each other and towards Ichigo who ran an exasperated hand down his face. "I said, you're going to have to try and convince them you were trying to help me, not just call everyone an idiot for not seeing what you did." Ichigo's voice was bland as he frowned at Aizen, briefly giving Kisuke an apologetic look.
Aizen sniffed, looking away from the god and staring at the dark wall. "All others are beneath me if they could not see such obvious clues, your word is all I care for."
To have the god wannabe speaking to someone as a superior made Kisuke uncomfortable, it was so far out of what he knew of the man.
"Well try, otherwise this captain's meeting is going to blow the top off the first division." Kisuke's eyebrows rose into his hairline, his eyes snapping to Ichigo. Now he understood why they had come here after the hell butterfly had been sent. Oh, this was going to go terribly. He couldn't wait.
Ichigo sent him a knowing look, "yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking. But if I gotta explain the whole soul king thing I at least have to explain why Sosuke isn't as insane as everyone thought he was. Besides, I don't quite know all the details of how he managed to figure it out so this way he won't have to explain twice." Ichigo shrugged, ignoring how Aizen frowned at the word insane.
Of everything Ichigo said one thing grabbed his attention the most. "Sosuke?" He put emphasis on Aizen's name, tilting his hat back to uncover his eyes and frowning at Ichigo.
"Yeah? I call you Kisuke?" Ichigo blinked at him like it was no big deal and for a moment Urahara wondered if he was the odd one.
Aizen scoffed and moved to stand by Ichigo's side, crossing his arms as his lips twisted into a half smirk, dark eyes narrowing on him once more. "Do you expect a god to follow our normalities? Foolish, when they are who our souls are born from." Aizen tilted his head back and to the side, not bothering to hide his hatred.
Kisuke begrudgingly admitted he had a point but refused to say it. Instead, he completely ignored Aizen, ignored how just his very being abhorred him and faced Ichigo, who he noted was still careful not to look him directly in the eyes.
"We're taking him with us?"
Ichigo shook his head. "No, just warning him about a change of plans. You and I will go together but I wanted to make sure he was clear on what was happening." Ichigo paused and looked Aizen over, a frown forming on his face as he trailed a finger along the center of Aizen's chest. The delicate way Ichigo did it make Kisuke shudder before he realized something was missing. Kisuke's eyes widened when he saw that the Hogyoku was no longer with Aizen. In fact, he couldn't sense it anywhere in the room. He didn't know how he had overlooked such a large detail, but he wasn't quite willing to blame it all on the chaos Ichigo wrought wherever he went.
Aizen sneered at him, noticing where his gaze lingered, yet Kisuke could see the slight weariness in his eyes. Aizen still had no zanpakuto, and now he was quite killable.
"No," Ichigo's voice cut through his thoughts and he blinked, frowning at the lack of privacy he was given, even in his own mind. "Sorry but no. Aizen is mine to deal with Kisuke." Ichigo's tone was unwavering, as if he expected him to argue.
Kisuke's fingers tightened around Benihime briefly before letting his anger go, unwilling to fight with his former pupil over a man he wanted nothing to do with even now. Ichigo relaxed, turning back to Aizen and pressing his palm firmly against the traitor's chest. Power flared briefly and Kisuke blinked away the blinding light. When his vision cleared, he saw Aizen's chest had been healed and his clothes were no longer rags hanging off him. The brown haired man once again wore his outfit from Hueco Mundo, looking every bit the arrogant asshole Kisuke knew he was.
Aizen nodded towards Ichigo, a small tilt of his lips forming into the first genuine smile Kisuke thought he had ever seen on the man. "Thank you. It is appreciated."
Kisuke was going to get whiplash from Aizen's mood swings.
A grin blossomed on Ichigo's face and he nodded to them, "right, I'll call you to me when we're ready."
Kisuke walked behind Ichigo in silence as they made their way to the captain's meeting. The sun was high in the sky now and the white buildings and walls were nearly blinding. He contemplated on the meeting they had just left, on the decisions Ichigo seemed to be able to make with a rational head and well thought out ideas as he filled Kisuke and Aizen in. Grey eyes trailed over silver clothes and Kisuke held back a weary sigh, it was hard to remind himself that the Ichigo of now was a millennia old god that was probably a lot wiser than he was. And that he had relented to the soutaichou's idea so easily earlier had been the nail in the coffin for Kisuke, because clearly Ichigo could see the reason for what it was, opportunity.
"You're brooding," Ichigo's humming voice cut through him and he spluttered.
He put on his best annoying voice and brought his fan up to hide his face. "Ah, Kurosaki-san!" He quickly found out that calling him Ichigo-sama had induced a cold glare the day before, so he chose to address him the same as always. "My wonderful pupil is so observant!"
Ichigo snorted and looked over his shoulder at him, catching Kisuke off guard with the large smile that was on his face. "Don't change, Kisuke."
There was such warmth and fondness in that statement that he couldn't help the surprise that fluttered across his face, his hand dropping away with his fan. It was only when Ichigo turned back around to look at him that he realized he had stopped walking as well. "Oi, pick your jaw up off the floor, we're late!"
A genuine smile tilted at the corners of his lips, and he tilted his head down, shadowing his eyes from view as he nodded. "Of course."
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Now that they were at the entrance of the meeting hall Kisuke was vibrating in excitement. As someone who lived off drama and lavish reveals, he couldn't wait to see the look on their faces. Especially Byakuya and Soifon. And this time, he had brought a camera. A weight landed on his shoulder and he turned to his right, smiling down at Yoruichi with the broadest grin he could muster. She was looking at him with such mirth in her eyes that he knew she wouldn't have missed this for the world. Her whiskers were practically quivering in excitement and her paws were kneading into the fabric of his dark green haori.
Ichigo glanced back and gave her a smile, making Yoruichi stiffen. It seemed he wasn't the only one unused to this iteration of Ichigo. It had always been a rare thing when he smiled, and to see him more open now was only slightly unsettling. Yoruichi nodded at Ichigo, and Urahara idly wondered how she would act towards him now.
The orange haired god turned back towards the double doors and gave them a casual shove, flinging them open and walking into the meeting hall, disregarding the shouts of outrage that came from inside. Urahara was giddy and practically skipped in behind him, camera at the ready and completely unfazed by Yamamoto's harsh reiatsu and slam of his cane. When the doors closed behind them and they were cast in shadows and the soutaichou leveled everyone in the room with a heavy glare, besides Ichigo of course. Kisuke wasn't sure what they had been discussing prior to them entering, but judging by the Kuchiki head's position on the floor with parchment lined in his clan seal, it was quite important. He was glad that they seemed to come just in time then, since it didn't seem like they knew who the new god was. Just that he was around.
Subtly, he lifted his camera and snapped their angry expressions, wanting comparisons for before and after. No one seemed to notice him though because at the same time, Yamamoto sank to his knees, placing his zanpakuto disguised as a cane horizontally in front of him, and bowed with his forehead to the floor in front of a scowling Ichigo. Kisuke snapped a series of photos, capturing the widening of eyes and hanging of jaws as twelve pairs of eyes snapped from Yamamoto to Ichigo. Jushiro and Shunsui were the next to move, easily mimicking their mentor and bowing with a smile on their face. Soifon was next, stiffly lowering herself, her face pained and mouth twisted like she sucked on a lemon. Oh, that was perfect.
The rest of the captains followed, some with more grace than others, but Kenpachi was the only one with a savage grin. He made a mental note to talk to the visored later, their acceptance of the situation seemed far too easy, and he wondered if they were just used to Ichigo's antics by now, always expecting the unexpected. Surprisingly enough, the last to gather enough bearings to get themselves onto the floor were Rukia and Renji, their mouths opening and closing in unison. Rukia's violet eyes met Renji's brown, and they nodded to each other before swiftly following the example of their captains. Once everyone was on the floor Ichigo opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when Yoruichi jumped in front of him, right off Urahara's shoulder. She flicked her tail and stared up at him, giving him a quick bow on the front of her paws before curling around his leg and demanding to be pet.
Kisuke blinked, not quite expecting that. He let his eyes trail up and he shook his head with a smile at the large grin Ichigo had on his face. Ichigo picked her up, settling her in his arms and Kisuke could see immediately that she turned into liquid under his ministrations.
"Stand, and don't feel the need to do this every time. I'm sure it would be a killer on the legs." Ichigo broke the silence in the only way he knew how and Kisuke heard more than one chuckle. Almost as one, they all sat up on their knees, still sitting but staring up at him with mirrored expressions of bewilderment. Kisuke could practically hear the questions ringing out of their mind and apparently so could Ichigo because he sighed and adjusted Yoruichi so she could hold onto him herself. He saw Soifon's eye twitch and he snapped another photo.
Now with free hands, Ichigo started counting things off on his fingers in a way that reminded Kisuke of the annoyed teenager that he had been.
"One, no I didn't know until recently. Two, it's form getting my memories back," He paused, staring up at the ceiling hard enough to burn a hole in it. "Three, I prefer Ichigo, but I was called Tsukuyomi." Said man continued on with bullheaded stubbornness, completely ignoring the choked off cries of disbelief and the clicking of his camera. "Now let me make it clear that I am happy for the society you have built and protected over millennia," Ichigo looked down from where he had been staring at the ceiling and met several pairs of eyes looking at him warily.
Kisuke had already heard what was to come, and truly it had been a sobering realization. He always knew about the flaws the Gotei 13 held, but never did he imagine that it ran further than bone deep. The very foundations based off corruption, albeit unknowingly. He let his gaze slide to Soifon, knowing full well she would be the most against this and awaiting her reaction.
"Your wills are strong and your beliefs just," Ichigo paused, as if he were unwilling to truly sweep the rug from under them. He saw when silver eyes hardened, and he tensed in preparation for the out of control reiatsu that was to come.
"But unfortunately, Aizen was right about the soul king."
That…was possibly the worst way that it could have been put. There was a brief silence that followed Ichigo's voice before the blonde was physically jolted by the surge in reiatsu from everyone in the room. Minus the soutaichou, and Kisuke had to thank the gods for small mercies.
The outcry was unanimous, and he didn't blame them. Soifon was up in arms, as expected, her voice rough and loud, grating against his nerves in a way only she could manage.
"That traitor is against everything we believe in! How dare you-" her voice was cut off sharply and she crumpled to the ground under the overbearing weight of the soutaichou's reiatsu. Kisuke leaned on Benihime, his grip white knuckled as he flared his own power to try to stay standing. So much for small mercies. The majority of it wasn't even directed at him, and he still had a hard time remaining upright.
Yamamoto's glare was heavy when it landed on a gasping Soifon, rage swelling in eyes that burned like coals. To the credit of the small captain, she managed to nod her head in understanding, taking in a deep breath when the pressure was let up.
Silence reigned, the tension in the air heavy as everyone tried to come to terms with what they just witnessed. To see the soutaichou show such support of Ichigo, was bewildering, but it only further proved that he was who he said he claimed to be. They had been convinced already, the soutaichou bowed to no man, yet it seemed some of the other captains were quick to let it slip when the new god wore such a familiar face.
Kisuke looked away from the cowed Soifon, eyes briefly passing over a miffed Yoruichi before landing on Ichigo again. The young man was the only one who seemed completely unaffected by the reiatsu that had nearly suffocated all of them.
"I know it's difficult to accept, but what I say is true. The one who calls himself god is nothing more than a traitor."
Kisuke felt his brows raise at the anger that twisted in Ichigo's words, wearily eyeing the distortion of space in his immediate surroundings. Kisuke took a step away from the seething god and swallowed.
"He holds false power and has spun a web of lies for millennia. I have already killed off a part of him and I do not intend to stop." Ichigo's silver eyes were raging with a blazing fury, his fists clenched at his sides. Two figures materialized next to Ichigo and Kisuke saw when his familiars rested their hands on his shoulders in silent support, one on each side. If anyone was surprised at their appearance, they didn't show it, and maybe it was because they didn't have any more surprise to give.
Ichigo took in a calming breath and the distorted air around him straightened and returned to normal. When he spoke again his voice was more calm, but still tinged with bitterness. "Aizen Sosuke knew the truth of the soul king. He was under the impression that the soul society also knew and ignored the truth." The silence was deafening, and Kisuke could see the beginning of anger in several pairs of eyes. If Ichigo saw it, he ignored it.
"For trying to help me, Aizen Sosuke is now under my command. And while I can appreciate his…enthusiasm I do not condone his methods, and he will be delt with accordingly." Ichigo's voice was unwavering, his eyes set on the soutaichou the entire time. The scratching of a quill on parchment was the only sound as Byakuya Kuchiki worked furiously from his spot on the floor. His movements were steady but his eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. Kisuke took another picture.
After a long, tense silence, Yamamoto relented with a nod of his head. "It is as you say, Tsukuyomi-sama" his rumbling voice filled the air and Kisuke could see Soifon reinflate with anger, practically steaming in her seated position. The room grew distinctly colder, and several pairs of eyes glanced at Toshiro who was stone faced. His hands were clenched in a white knuckled grip in his lap but otherwise, he gave no indication of his displeasure.
The spirits of Ichigo's powers removed their hands from his shoulders and took a step back from him as one, watching his back with varying expressions. Their movement brought attention back to them and some only gave them brief glances, but Kisuke noticed how Yamamoto's eyes seemed to bore into the elder of Ichigo's sprits. Ichigo waved Yamamoto off in a distinct gesture to talk later, and the old captain narrowed his eyes but seemed unwilling to argue in front of the others.
"Now then, I still have my own questions that only Sosuke can answer, and I'd rather not have to repeat myself." Ichigo waved a hand and the air in front of him rippled like water in a lake. Kisuke stepped back further, his gaze never leaving the ripple as he watched Aizen step though the distorted reality, an arrogant smirk on his face as usual.
Parts of the floor froze over in a flash freeze and several pairs of eyes glared hotly at the man. Shinji, who had been a fuming, silent observer up to this point, lunged towards the man, his fury evident on his face. In one smooth motion he had his zanpakuto out and slicing towards Aizen, who reached out in an attempt to catch the sword with his hand. None of the captains moved to intervene, and honestly Kisuke didn't blame them.
There was a clash of steel and Shiro stood between Aizen and a furious Shinji, blocking the blow. Shinji growled, his mask forming on his face in his rage, but the familiar was not cowed. The air grew dark, heavy, and Shinji who stood the closest to the source, fell to a knee, stubbornly keeping his sword raised even as his arms trembled. His glare moved from Ichigo's white doppelganger to the orange haired man, and he spoke through a clenched jaw.
"I can accept a lot of shit, Ichigo. But not this, not him!" Shinji's voice grew in volume, unrelenting even as the air grew heavier and heavier, forcing the captain down further and making Kisuke tremble from the weight. "You know what he did! How can you just turn your backs on us!"
If Shinji's words had any effect on Ichigo, he didn't show it. Ichigo stood tall and still, his hands in his silver haori and his eyes staring ahead resolutely. However, his familiars had different reactions altogether.
Shinji's head snapped to the left, the backhand he received from the white familiar splattering blood along the floor. Kisuke took a step forward, worried for his friend but froze when golden eyes were pinned on him briefly.
It was then that Kisuke realized that Ichigo was beyond lenient with them. Perhaps due to the familiarity he had with them or the mutual respect, either way, he understood now that Ichigo never actually used his power. His familiars on the other hand had no such qualms.
"Shut yer mouth you fucking mortal." The doppelganger's voice was twisted, angry, and distorted. Not in the way a hollow's was, but as if hundreds of others were speaking with him. Shinji, who had recovered and was about to retort, quailed. Shiro's golden eyes were glowing bright, illuminating the skin on his cheeks and swirling with anger. His grip on the overly large blade was white knuckled and no one dared to breath. The air around the familiar shifted, not like how Ichigo had made it, but they could still see the wood begin to erode under his heavy presence.
"Shiro," Ichigo's quiet voice cut though and Shiro immediately took a step away, sheathing his sword on his back without a word and spinning around, not sparing a glance back at the crumpled blond.
Ichigo didn't look towards Shinji as he spoke, but Kisuke could see the hard set of his jaw. "If you're done now, we must continue." His voice was even, firm, but it held a sort of heavy melody that hadn't been present before.
Kisuke's heart clenched at the sight Ichigo made. He had shut himself off, perfectly posed and had an air of indifference to him. He took a hesitant step towards Ichigo but was stopped by the seething glare Aizen sent him and the others. The white clad man stood with his hands at ease on his side but there was a tightness to his razer sharp smile that made Kisuke aware that he was anything but calm.
Aizen looked down his nose at Shinji, his head held high as he scoffed. "Such imprudence, it is no wonder that you were all so foolishly blind."
The blonde's shoulder's tensed but he said nothing as he stiffly stood and sent a hateful glare towards the traitor. "I don't care what you think you knew-"
A slam from the front of the room cut him off and Yamamoto's gruff voice bellowed out in outrage. "Enough! You have sullied your rank as is! Return to the line!"
Shinji hesitated but ultimately obeyed, sending one last withering glare at Aizen before resolutely burning a hole in the far wall with his eyes.
Kisuke let out the breath he had been holding as did many others. The quiet scraping of Byakuya's quill picked up once more and Ichigo rubbed a hand down his face in frustration.
"Now, no more interruptions. Hold your questions or else this is going to take fucking days." Ichigo turned to face Aizen and jerked his head, motioning for him to come closer. Aizen moved without hesitation, giving Ichigo a swift bow, ignoring the surprise on the others faces as he did so.
"How did you find out about me?" Ichigo tilted his head to the side in curiosity.
"Simple. The archives hold scrolls from before the founding of the gotei, I of course read them. When you read in between the lines, they simply cannot be referring to the soul king." Aizen gestured, waving a hand towards the sky. "The texts claimed to be infused with the power of the god that made them, but when I investigated, the reiatsu that holds up the palace does not resonate with the power in the scroll. Of course, that could only mean that the person is not the same." Aizen paused, turning with a raised brow towards him and motioning him forward. Kisuke let his feet guide him, too curious as to what was being revealed.
"Tell me Urahara, what holds up the soul king's palace?"
He recited from memory, "the reiatsu from the king on the throne."
Aizen nodded, "now, if you were to hold a holy artifact you'd immediately know, yes?"
Kisuke nodded in confirmation, knowing that Aizen was only talking to him so he could show the plausibility of his story. That manipulative-
"And they cannot be falsified?"
Kisuke nodded again, tapping his fan against his thigh.
Aizen turned back to Ichigo, completely content in ignoring everyone else in the room. "The scroll itself was an artifact, and when I noticed the differences in the reiatsu, I searched more." Aizen's gaze slid to Ichigo's familiars as he continued. "I do believe your familiars can explain the rest."
There was silence for a moment as Ichigo raised a brow and twisted his neck to look over his shoulder at Ossan. Shiro was still fuming on his other side but Zangetsu nodded in understanding.
"You found my writings, then."
Zangetsu Ossan stepped forward, his cloak billowing around him in an invisible wind as he bowed his head towards Ichigo before continuing. "Endless lifetimes, my kami, Shiro and I could not be the only ones to know. We wrote that scroll centuries ago, in a time before the gotei, in hopes that someone would understand." Zangetsu slid his pale blue eyes towards Aizen and gave the brown haired man a leveling look.
"It is unfortunate only one soul was capable, but we are grateful nonetheless." Zangetsu tilted his head ever so slightly to the other.
Kisuke expected condensation from Aizen, anything that stroked his superiority complex really. He was partially correct. Aizen nodded back towards the spirit, his back still turned to the captains as he made a point to continue to only address Ichigo.
"It is unfortunate that I was not around earlier, since I see age does not bring intellect after all." Kisuke felt several captains bristle and he tilted his hat down, clenching his eyes shut. He had forgotten just how tiring it was to talk to Aizen.
Ichigo hummed, tilting his head back and exposing his throat as he gazed at nothing. Only the faint scowl on his face gave any indication that he was deep in thought. Ichigo rolled his shoulders and brought his gaze back to Aizen, motioning for the man to stand beside him.
Again, Aizen moved without complaint, putting himself to Ichigo's right, one step behind and next to Zangetsu ossan.
"Che, lap dog already."
Kisuke didn't catch who said it, but Aizen's dark chuckle didn't bode well. Before the room could once again erupt in chaos Kisuke stepped forward towards Ichigo, ignoring the scowl Aizen sent him.
"Ah Kurosaki-san, what will happen now?"
Ichigo smiled viciously, his reiatsu licking across his skin. "We go to the palace of course."
The occupants of the table were silent, each eyeing their cooling tea with varying expressions. Shinji clenched his jaw, his hand straining not to shatter the cup in his hand. He just couldn't get over it, couldn't understand why Ichigo would side with that bastard.
"Shinji," Rose's voice was soft, and he and Kensei turned to look at the blonde. His face was impassive but there was an air of finality around him.
"I still trust Ichigo."
His frown deepened and Kensei threw his cup against the wall, flinging tea and glass in all directions. They didn't say anything, but Rose wasn't deterred. Next to him, Lisa nodded her head in a sharp movement and took a sip of tea before speaking.
"Rose is right. Ichigo knows what he's doing. I doubt his will to protect those he cares about has changed." She crossed her arms, the white captain's haori caught under them and straining, revealing her smooth legs.
"Che," Shinji leaned back, ignoring Kensei when the man stormed out of the room. "I doubt he knows what he's doing. Aizen is a manipulative-"
"Shut up Shinji. Do you think a god is wrong here?" Lisa's voice cut him off and he snapped his mouth shut. That had been another thing that was terribly hard to believe, he hadn't even had a chance to let it simmer yet. Aizen's appearance had drained away any rational thought, but now he could see the beginnings of their reasoning. He turned to glare at her, meeting her eyes behind her glasses but eventually turning away from the ferociousness he saw there. When had she and Ichigo grown so close?
He slumped in his seat, taking a sip of his cold tea to distract himself. Because when he really put all the pieces together, it wasn't hard to believe what Ichigo was doing was right. The harder pill to swallow was something else entirely, and he realized that may have been what was clouding his judgment the first time around.
"He looks the same," he murmured, eyeing the far wall and watching as the shadows grew longer.
Lisa let out a sigh and she leaned back against her chair heavily. "Yeah, I know Shinji. He's still got that young face and same fire in his eyes," she paused and he turned to look at her with raised brows.
"He still looks like a kid, our kin. But really… was he ever?" The question wasn't whether or not Ichigo was family, the question was if they had ever had a right to call him that.
Shinji looked away and briefly locked eyes with Rose.
They didn't know.
.
.
.
This is way longer than intended.
Not beta read sorry for any errors.
As mentioned before this is crack. I'm kinda just having fun with it. Thanks for the favs and follows though and reviews!