Chapter 17
The Thousand Year Blood War Begins
He'd done it.
Kon had beaten Muramasa.
But it was bittersweet; the sword had learned his lesson for sure, as he voiced his regrets with his dying breath.
Now, it was peace time.
Or so everyone thought.
A young man lie unable to move on the ground.
One difference; the young man was a soul reaper.
Three massive hollows were coming for him when suddenly a wave of energy sliced the one in front in half.
"Are you the one who's taking over for Imoyama?"
The young man looked up at his savior, who was in soul reaper robes himself.
"You'd better get it in gear; you need to be more help than him or else you're useless."
The young man managed to look up at the other young man standing in front of him.
"Wh...Who are you?"
The blonde haired young man smirked.
"Kon. Soul Reaper."
The young soul reaper shot up.
"AH! Sorry, I wasn't listening!"
Ichigo turned his head, as did Kon.
"I said nothing," said the orange haired of the two "humans" in the room.
"..."
Ichigo turned back and sighed.
"Now that you're awake, you can leave."
This got the boy's attention.
"WHAT?!"
The door burst open.
"Here I am! Brining some delicious bread!"
Orihime happily entered the room.
She took notice of the boy on the bed.
"Oh you're awake! That's great!"
Ichigo looked up at his girlfriend with a suspicious look.
"You sure it's 'delicious'? If they were throwing it away it must be unpopular."
"Ichigo!" scolded Kon.
"You won't have it if you say so!" taunted Orihime.
"It's as she said," started a voice from the hallway.
"She always looks so happy when she's eating it," said Uryuu as he turned the corner. "You really don't know etiquette."
"Yeah" agreed Chad as he too entered the room.
"Shut up!" said Ichigo angrily. "By the way, why did you all just burst into my house without even ringing the bell?!"
"We just happened to run into Yuzu," explained Uryuu. "Why don't you go and get some dishes so that we can share the bread, instead of blabbering?"
Ichigo turned to Kon and nodded to the door.
Disgruntled and mumbling something about still being bossed around he walked off.
It was as Kon left the door that the boy on the bed yelled out.
"AHHHH!"
Ichigo snapped around.
"Hey, keep quiet!"
"Th-that was that guy from yesterday!"
Ichigo closed his eyes and sighed.
"Yeah, that's Kon. It did seem weird that you wouldn't say anything. Did you just realize it was him? By the way it's not yesterday, it's two days ago."
"Eh?"
"You slept one full day!" yelled Ichgio.
As the boy thought over the events of that day he met Kon, the man in question returned with plates.
Ichigo took a portion and handed it to the boy.
"Eh?"
"It's your share, eat it."
"Eh...But..."
Ichigo let out something akin to a growl and sigh at once.
"You won't be able to eat it like that. Your Gigai is right there, just enter it."
Upon seeing his false body, the boy screamed and jumped to the side, away from the vessel.
Ichigo let out another exhasperated sigh.
"You're really annoying. Why would someone be scared of their own gigai?"
"N-no I mean.. I shouldn't be doing this... SHINO! Is Shino alri-!"
"I'm back."
The voice came from a girl about his age with grocery bags.
"I got some cola..."
She noticed they boy and appeared to tear up.
"Ryuunosuke...!"
The soda hit the floor.
"Shino! I'm so glad you're okay..!"
The girl's expression swiftly changed.
"You are so shameful!"
She attacked the boy and brought him crashing down.
The others in the room began eating as the two soul reapers bickered.
Ichigo realized something.
"By the way, you still haven't told us your name."
He started to turn around but stopped when he heard an unfamiliar voice.
"You're right."
The group looked to the man on the bed who had entered via the window.
"I'll tell you. It's Ivan."
There was silence from the surprise entrance.
"Do you want ot know my full name? Ivan Azgiaro. Do you have any other questions?"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know who you are... but get off that bed."
He quickly prodded his inner hollow.
'What's this guy's game? I thought Ulquiorra handled the stray arrancar...?'
'He smells weird. He's no normal arrancar.'
Ichigo turned fully.
"Pardon me, could you say it again? I didn't hear well," said the arrancar.
"I don't know who you are," started Ichigo, louder than before "but get off the bed. That's what I said."
"I refuse!"
Ichigo kicked the man square in the face and sent him flying back out the window, which Orihime had opened.
The young man recovered, took his pill and left his body in his Soul Reaper Dominant form.
The man was recovering on the ground outside.
"Ugh... why did he kick me all of a sudden? Is he stupid..?"
"Hey!" Ichigo exclaimed "I get it that you have business with me."
His mask was forming over his face and his hair beginning to grow long again.
In a burst of red and black energy the change was complete.
"I'll listen to what you want, so follow me."
The man smirked.
"Business with you..? Don't be so arrogant. Aren't you just curious to know who I am?!"
Ichigo turned and took off at high speed saying "I'm not! Let's go!"
The arrancar followed him a bit flabbergasted at the sudden movement.
"As Uryuu suggested..." started ichigo. "You seem to have a hollow mask on your face. Are you.. An Arrancar?"
"...Arrancar?"
"Are you alone?" continued Ichigo. "Are you following someone's orders? What do you gain by fighting me?"
"ME, AN ARRANCAR?!"
Ichgio stopped and turned around.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not an arrancar."
The being flicked his wrist and a star-shaped item chained to it fell down from his sleeve.
"That's...!"
"What's the matter? Does it remind you of something, Ichigo Kurosaki?"
A massive bow appeared from it.
Knowing what was coming, Ichigo went back and drew Zangetsu, now in Shikai.
When the arrow fired Ichigo slashed his sword, stopping the attack.
However, several more fired, forcing Ichigo to take evasive maneuvers.
"JUST DODGING?! IST THAT THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO?!" Taunted the being firing blasts from a massive bow at Ichigo.
'So far he's just been provking me...'
"AT THIS RATE, YOU WILL NEED A BANKAI TO WIN AGAINST ME!"
'I don't know who he is or what he wants with me, but I"ll have to play his game.'
Ichigo leveled his sword.
"Ban...Kai!"
Suddenly a massive X appeared and rays of light engulfed him.
"Melt." started the being fighting ichigo as the lights became dots around the Vizard. "Sea, become clouds. Clouds, become rain. Rain, become mist, all things that have a shape, vanish. At the end of our joy we throw the cup to the ground."
What his spell was meant to do was seal away Ichigo's bankai, which at first it seemed to be doing as the jacket of his outfit started tearing away and dissolving.
However, it wasn't to be.
The white on Ichigo's body began to disintegrate instead, the fur tearing away and flying to a sphere around a star in the arrancar's hand in the middle of the X.
Ichigo felt his mask deteriorate into nothing as his entire hollow power was torn from his body.
However... Ichigo's bankai remained intact.
The arrancar's eyes widened... as the item in his hand shattered.
"What..?!"
Ichigo, now once more fully a soul reaper, let loose a powerful Getsuga Tensho.
However, without his hollow it was only half of what it used to be.
The arrancar was left scarred from the attack.
"Why did your Bankai not vanish?!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ichigo had his sword at the arrancar's neck.
"I didn't care about you at first. But after the last 5 minutes I suddenly have lots of things to ask you. You're coming with me."
"SHIT!"
Suddenly a shadow appeared that forced Ichigo to step back.
"Don't worry. This shadow only hides the chosen ones."
With that the arrancar vanished.
'He vanished!'
"Shit! What did he do just now!?"
"Damn, I was hoping to torture him some."
Ichigo's eyes widened as he turned around.
Behind him was a pure white version of himself. With a reversed Vasto Lorde mask.
"What...What are you doing...But...!?"
"Hello there..." the being lifted his mask "Ichigo!"
Ichigo was aghast.
"How….?"
"Who knows? Whatever device he used was meant to contain Our bankai. Looks like it couldn't do its job."
"But why are you here? Why not Zangetsu?"
The white ichigo looked at him with a frown.
"I thought I told you, I am Zangetsu."
"Don't start this with me again dammit."
The white haired man took off his mask and walked over to Ichigo.
"I'm not starting anything, Ichigo."
The hollow landed on the ground and began walking back to Ichigo's house.
"Hey, stop and answer me!"
"I think you'll find this interesting, Ichigo."
The hollow stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"I've remembered who I am. What I am. And even a little bit of what I used to be. But you won't believe me if I tell you; I need a more reliable source of information, one that you'll trust."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"W-what? Hey, wait up!"
Ichigo followed his hollow back.
The two entered the house and the hollow put his mask back on.
The two walked up the stairs and the hollow casually strolled into the room…causing everyone else to freeze and follow him.
"I don't believe we've met. I…" the hollow smirked under his mask. "…am Zangetsu."
Gasps were heard.
"Impossible," Uryuu said. "You're a hollow!"
"That I am. But I'm also a Zanpakto. I just couldn't remember it. You might be interested in knowing why."
Ichigo entered the room.
"And why would that be, hollow?"
The hollow took off his mask, setting it on Ichigo's desk before pulling out the chair and sitting down, crossing his arms.
"Your rudeness aside, that strange device that Arrancar had must have done something to jog my memory as well as giving me a spirit body of my own. Maybe it just pulled on all the right strings."
He looked over to Ichigo, resting one arm over the back of the chair, pausing.
"Well, most of them anyway. Ichigo, you know about the Old Man…Right?"
"Yeah, Zanget-!"
"He isn't Zangetsu."
Shock filled the room.
"Then what is he?" Ichigo asked in a low, threatening tone.
Zangetsu smirked.
"I don't even know that. What I do know is whatever he is has been surprising your Soul Reaper powers by masquerading as me and makin' me forget who I was."
Suddenly the door opened and muffled yelling was heard from below in the house.
"Right on time."
There were loud, running footsteps that were heard coming up the stairs.
"ICHIGOOO-!"
The man stopped when he saw the hollow.
"Hello 'Dad'."
The hollow put on his mask slowly, grinning as he did and turned to face Isshin.
Isshin's eyes widened.
"..What….!?"
"D..Dad?"
Ichigo looked to his father, whose face was one of fear and shock.
He looked back to Zangetsu.
"How do you know my dad?!"
"Through you, obviously."
"I mean… how does he know you!?"
"That I can't say. Why don't you enlighten us, dear old 'Dad'? Why so shocked?"
Isshin's face turned to a serious one.
"I killed you. Twice."
The hollow looked down at himself.
"I don't think so. Ichigo sure has tried though."
The hollow laughed.
"Dad…?" Ichigo asked tensely.
Isshin looked to his son.
"Come with me. We need to talk. Alone." He looked to the hollow. "You as well. If you really don't' remember…"
Ichigo got back into his body and the two followed his father downstairs.
The three silently left the house and made their way down several streets, eventually coming across the Urahara shop.
The three entered and were greeted by Urahara.
"Isshin! Ichigo! And… Ichigo?"
"Tch. I'm not Ichigo. I am Zangetsu."
"Huh? I thought he was an old man…"
"That's why we're here I guess."
Zangetsu frowned under his mask.
"Y'know as much as I have to thank you for reviving me, I don't really seem to trust you for some reason blondie."
"I guess you really are Ichigo's Zanpakto spirit," the ex-captain chuckled. "I'll put some tea on and be right back!"
Isshin nodded to a nearby table and the three sat down.
"Ichigo, I think it's time you knew the truth about your mother."
"What, was she a hollow?" Ichigo replied in a sarcastic tone.
"No, she was very much human. However…"
He leaned in a bit.
"She was also a Quincy."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Yes."
"Then how did he show up," Ichigo asked, pointing to Zangetsu.
"It's a long story. Before I met your mother I was the Captain of the 10th Division in Soul Society. You've presumably seen what's left of my overcoat on my uniform back when we were fighting Aizen. There was a very strange but powerful reiatsu signature. I knew my men couldn't handle it, so I went in alone. What I saw was terrifying. It was a black hollow, and its hole was closed off. Its mask…"
Isshin paused and looked to Zangetsu.
"Looked almost exactly like yours. However, as I fought it, it felt as if I was fighting another Soul Reaper. However, as I fought another Soul Reaper, from the 13th Division, approached… and was slaughtered by the beast."
"Wha… Are you sayin…?!" Zangetsu started.
"Let me finish and you'll see what I'm saying, Hollow. I released my sword's Shikai. As I did however, I was struck down in the back. Then someone spoke to me. The voice I didn't know at the time, but now… I know it was Aizen."
"No way…" Ichigo replied.
Isshin nodded.
"I continued fighting the Hollow, managing to cut off an arm. However, I was bleeding and my Spiritual Pressure was waning. Then your mother entered the picture, taking a shot at it. She missed. I tried to warn her, but the hollow bit her shoulder. She took advantage of that however and blew its head right off. Then it exploded. She seemed okay. I wasn't. I ended up taking most of the blast trying to save her from a danger that wasn't there. She healed me. Some time passed after we parted ways."
Isshin chuckled.
"I couldn't get her off my mind. However… Our reunion wasn't a happy one. At least it wasn't for happy reasons…"
He sighed.
"The bite had a delayed effect; it had begun to hollowfy her. Turns out she was gonna marry another Quincy or something to preserve the purity of their bloodline. He'd taken off with her and was about to get taken out by a hollow, but I stopped it. That's when Kisuke showed up."
The man in question then brought the tea and sat down with them, nodding.
"I brought them back here and told them of the only way to save her life and prevent her from committing "Soul Suicide". Your father here agreed without a second thought. He saved her life."
Isshin looked to Ichigo.
"When your hollow powers awakened, the bond between the shell I'd used to help suppress it in your mother and the power itself was severed, and I became a Shinigami again. There's more. You should know… the real reason your mother died."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Your mother wasn't supposed to die that day."
"What do you mean?"
"Quincies have a special skill called 'Blut'."
Urahara nodded.
"They raise their skills by making their Spirit Energy flow into their blood vessels. All pure-blooded Quincies have it since birth, and those that don't can get it with training."
Isshin nodded.
"Masaki… Your mother… even though she got mixed up with a hollow, was a pure-blooded Quincy. In particular, her Defense Blut, "Blut Vene", was exceptionally powerful. That's why the hollow's injury she got when I met her was considered weird and she never suffered any wounds again afterwards."
Isshin closed his eyes.
"That day… I wasn't 'unable' to save her.. I just didn't go save her. That time I was at home, I felt both her and Grand Fisher's Spiritual Energy. Without my powers I couldn't do anything, but if I'd known she was at a disadvantage I'd have gone anyway. The difference between it and Misaki's power was very evident; she should have been able to defeat it without a scratch. But that didn't happen."
Ichigo's eyes widened.
"Did your friend Uryuu ever talk to you about his mother?"
"…No. He's not the type to talk about his family."
"His mother was Kanae Katagiri… A mixed-blood quincy. 9 years ago, on June 17th, she lost consciousness and died 3 months later. 9 years ago… a man named Juha Bach made a "selection" of Quincies. I heard that Quincy folklore also tells about a sealed king. According to that, the sealed king would regain his heart after 900 years… his intellect after 90 years… and his power after 9 years. To regain his power, he stole the power from mixed-blood Quincy, whom he considered 'impure' and made it his own. Because of that, Kanae Katagiri, who was already weak, died. And Masaki…Lost her power and the fight and died."
Ichigo shot up, slamming his hands on the table.
"How… How could he do something like that? Because he's the king? Who is Juha Bach?"
Urahara piped up.
"He's the one who created the Quincy. His blood flows in every Quincy. Which means…"
"…Wait… I'm…?!"
Isshin nodded.
"Somewhere in you is that power."
Zangetsu piped up.
"So I'm some hand-me-down sword spirit/hollow hybrid? And Ichigo's a Quincy too? How's that even possible?"
Urahara shrugged.
"Who knows? Ichigo's always full of surprised though, so just add this to the list I guess!"
Suddenly there was a very familiar sound from the basement.
"Gargantua…!" Ichigo exclaimed.
"Strange, that shouldn't be opening…"
Ichigo popped himself out of his body and Isshin did the same and they headed downstairs...
...Only for a beaten, bleeding Nelliel to fall from the Gargantua.