Hello again everyone. I hope you all are enjoying the work so far. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the actual reviews. So if you see anything that isn't correct or would like clarification, just let me know. If you have any ideas on directions the story could go, even if I don't take the story that way, I'd love to hear them.

I do not own Bleach in any way shape or form.

Ichigo decided the first order of business was to figure out what Old Man Zangetsu meant by him being dead. So he sat in the classic jinzen position, with both blades across his lap. As Ichigo closed his eyes he felt a familiar sensation, when he opened them he was standing in the city that lay sideways. His inner world, the manifestation of his heart and mind. Across from him were the two spirits of his soul, the manifestations of his power that were both Zangetsu. "What did you mean I'm dead?"

Both the spirits looked away. The true Zangetsu looked at Ichigo, "Listen partner, we can't be accessed by a human… When Rukia gave you her powers it was like a limbo deal, still reversible."

"But I have been living life and aging normally!"

"Ichigo… Before you recognized him as Zangetsu you were using Quincy powers in the form of a Soul Reaper. Now that you are a true Soul Reaper… Well your true body can be used as a gigi but it will decay. You will not age the same way anymore." The Old Man looked sad, almost regretful.

Zangetsu walked over to Ichigo, "I'm sorry, but you want the strength to protect people. Well it comes at a price."

"Okay, so I'm fucking dead. GREAT! Whatever, bigger fish to fry right now," Looking at the Old Man, "You said we were 100 years in the past. I have 100 years until Yhwach wakes up and I fight him. What the hell do I do until then?"

"Listen King, you need to train! I still have so much to teach you about how to use me as a weapon. How to use your hollow powers! You could learn instant regeneration!"

"Ichigo, now that you have time I can teach you all of the quincy techniques as well. And you can find a way to learn Kido." The Old Man put his hand on Ichigo's shoulder, "With as much knowledge as you could gain in one hundred years of training, the one I once was could stand before you for an instant."

"Okay." Ichigo looked up he realized how close to a storm his inner world was, "First order of business is shelter and food though."

Ichigo awoke with a bit of a start. He set off to find a way to build a hut at the top of the ravine.

The city was not sunny by any means but the rain wouldn't fall while Ichigo knew he could make it. Knew he could maybe even make it so fewer people would be hurt when the Quincy attacked.

Ichigo knew as he looked over the forest one thing, he had no idea how do build a any kind of home. 'Great, what the hell am I supposed to do?'

'King, join the academy. They might take someone as weak as you!' Zangetsu broke into a mad laughter at his little joke.

'Love to if I would seem so powerful that all of the Seireitei would instantly hear about me.'

'I may be able to help. I do know of a seal the quincy would use to reduce a Soul Reaper to near powerless levels. With you Ichigo it would reduce to the level of a 10th seat. If you held back well enough, no one would ever have to know you were that powerful.'

Ichigo considered this, if he joined the academy then he could learn Kido. He could also train with Zangetsu, although any Quincy or hollow training would have to hold off.

'Ichigo, before you decide… This seal can only be removed by another Quincy. So if you were to do it you would need to find one willing to undo it.'

'That won't be a problem. Uryu's father would be more than willing to stop the king.'

'He also hates Soul Reapers.'

'I'll deal with that when the time comes I guess… For now let's get the seal on me.'

'Not so fast… You might want to get to the gate first, it's a long way off right now.'

'Right, good call.'

Ichigo took off. When he could see the separation of the Rukon and Seireitei he stopped. It was then that he realized that he had no idea how to get into the academy. Not even the slightest clue where it was. 'Maybe someone else will know. What if they don't accept me right away? How in the hell will I survive without food if it takes a year to actually get in?'

'Ichigo, if it takes time to get into the academy you will have to find work for food. With your power a body guard job would be easy enough to obtain for some noble family.'

'Maybe… But if I do that won't it draw attention to me?'

'Maybe; however that may be your only choice.'

'Who cares Kingy? A job as a body guard for nobles might actually be better.' Zangetsu spoke with an odd seriousness to his tone. 'Hell it'd be more time to train with me and the old man for your other powers.'

Now that it had been said it was a serious thought in Ichigo's mind. After all, if he went through the academy he would have to limit himself just to learn Kido. If he didn't he could learn all the techniques Zangetsu could teach him. That would almost be more valuable than learning Kido. After all, it was a Quincy technique that got him stuck here.

'Ichigo, I know nothing of a quincy ability that would combat the effects of a time lock. Though when the first wars started a thousand years ago, there were Kido spells that manipulated time. In those times Soul Reapers were brutal. The Getsuga Tenshou was once used by hire level Soul Reapers like a cero. In fact, to my understanding that is what it is based on.'

'So Getsuga Tenshou isn't your ability?'

'No it's fucking not!'

'Indeed Ichigo, it is a technique that could be used by any Soul Reaper with sufficient power. Many of the techniques used 1000 years ago are forbidden now. But if you were to find a way to gain access to them… Then you may find a way to combat the technique that forced you to end up here.'

'Okay. Well I'll see what I can find out. But for the time being I think I stand out just a little much with you two released like this.'

'No.'

'Don't be so harsh old man. He is our wielder. If he thinks he can seal us… Let him fucking try!'

'So you to aren't going to help me with this at all?'

'Give you one hint. It's the exact OPPOSITE of bankai!'

With that, and that alone as his hint he understood that he had to draw his reiatsu in and not press in outward. However, he didn't understand how it could be the exact opposite of bankai. When he went into bankai he compresses his reiatsu. That's when he understood, the compression isn't part of the seal. Some zanpakuto are small, some are huge, but the seal is the wielder distancing themselves from the blade. The opposite of drawing closer the way he did when he went bankai or into his Final Getsu form. It would be the same feeling as when he went from bankai to shikai. With that in mind he felt his connection to Zangetsu, and he pushed it away from his consciousness.

He felt the change almost instantly the blades which were released became regular swords. Well his shorter sword was still the length of most released blades and the one across his back was as long as Tensa Zangetsu. Both handles were wrapped in a white cloth, quite a bit messier than most of the sealed zanpakutos he had seen sealed. But it would work.