Bleach (c) Tite Kubo


Once More To See You Again


The Expected Outcome


"Oh my, what's this? A gift?"

Kisuke Urahara raises an eyebrow at the cloth wrapped bundle placed next to him on the half-step that leads further into the building that served him as equal parts shop and home.

"The clothes you loaned me the other day. Laundered obviously. Thank you for letting me borrow them." Kaien Kurosaki explains, gesturing to the small parcel.

Despite the fact that its a school morning, early on a school morning at that, the younger Kurosaki brother is dressed casually in a plain green shirt, grey jacket and dark pants. He deposited his backpack by the door before fetching out the borrowed articles. Kisuke had advised him to prepare for several days of training and idly wonders what fib he'd spun to his family to explain away his absence.

"No trouble at all. I could hardly allow someone in your condition to roam around indecently." Kisuke dismisses in his usual display of jovial humour then fixes the teenager with a scrutinizing expression.

"And how are your injuries?"

Kaien demonstratively rolls his right shoulder. "Twinges a bit. Nothing complaint worthy. Those painkillers you gave me worked wonders. I'm half-tempted to ask who's your supplier so I can put in an order for Dad's clinic."

Kisuke's gaze narrows fractionally. He notes he can still sense the faintest trace of foreign reiatsu lingering there. It won't dissipate completely for another day or so but inwardly he allows himself a private smile.

Good, very good. That will make his contingency plans all the more convincing.

Outwardly, Kisuke maintains his cheery façade flicking open his fan, "I'm deeply flattered by the interest, but unfortunately that's an Urahara shop special. You understand I can't simply hand out trade secrets to anyone who asks. Its a terribly poor business practice."

"Spirit world shenanigans. Fair enough." Kaien shrugs with his typical upbeat manner then grows rueful, perhaps more than he realizes.

The soul may be the same but its clear this young man hasn't quite mastered the deft art of concealing his true thoughts behind a mask of effortless smiles and witty humour as his predecessor could. Kisuke has no doubts he'll master the talent in time (presuming he has that time), but for now the teenager's an open book.

"Is there something else on your mind?" Kisuke probes carefully.

"Um. Kinda," Kaien confesses scratches the back of his head, then slowly he explains himself, "The voice... I want to hear what it - what she has to say. But since I decided that for myself I've not heard or felt her presence. She's gone quiet. Now I'm semi-wondering if I've heard anything at all. That I'm actually barking mad and it just so happens to coincide with the fact I somehow crushed a Hollow into a marble with pool water."

Kisuke listens patiently, absorbing this bit of information. He detected the subtle tremors that heralded the awakening of a Zanpakutou spirit months ago in Kaien Kurosaki's reiryoku, but the description is what sends the scientist's thoughts whirling.

She.

A female Zanpakutou spirit with an evident water affinity. Quite intriguing.

Of course it might be mere coincidence. The Shiba clan were renown equally for their mastery of Kido and innate elemental affinities. And reincarnated or no, Kaien was a Shiba descendant. Given his proclivities towards water sports, it could very well be that he'd developed a spirit akin to Nejibana but not entirely the same through sheer happenstance.

Or perhaps not... Kisuke's skeptical mind counters. That single mental retort spirals into its own rampant speculation.

Zanpakutou live with their Shinigami and die by them. Therefore it's impossible for Kaien Shiba's Nejibana to transcend from one lifetime to the next.

Unless an external container somehow kept the spirit preserved long enough, and an opportunity to reintegrate with her master's reborn spirit presented itself... in the process, displacing - or absorbing - what would've been the burgeoning Zanpakutou spirit of this life.

Aside from environmental factors outside his control, Kaien Kurosaki has manifested a personality, physical characteristics, morals and even physical habits that are exact replication of the mannerisms he possessed as Lieutenant Shiba at an equivalent age. That's what Isshin had reported to him multiple times. The concerned father kept in close private contact over these past years about it, understandably fretful about the razor's edge that comes with raising children of such... unique circumstance.

If perhaps it is Nejibana after all, it could explain much. Kisuke muses rhetorically, frowning pensively as his mind takes him further down this winding road. Had Nejibana managed to migrate between lives, completely intact past the barriers of death and rebirth, then her presence could explain why his physical appearance is identical.

Shinigami sculpt their Zanpakutou by imprinting their souls onto an blank Asauchi to refine its form into a unique Shikai. That's typically how the process worked, but the influence of a Shinigami's inner world can work both ways. That influence could be small as a Zapakutou spirit withholding power from an unworthy wielder to a hollow affecting a total takeover of their host's personality, Kisuke had witnessed the latter occur numerous times with Shinji Hirako and his exiles.

Could the inverse have occurred here? That a fully developed Zanpakutou spirit has influenced its new vessel to such a degree, molding it like clay into its ideal wielder. And what wielder is more optimal than the one that gave birth to the spirit in the first place? The fact the new incarnation belonged to the same genetic lineage as the old, albeit one step removed (and coincidentally baring the same name) was icing on the cake.

Kisuke's eyes narrow fractionally at his conclusion. Admittedly it is wild speculation but according to Kisuke's research, the expected cascade breakdown experienced by all historical reassociations should've occurred years ago. He obviously hasn't revealed that fact to Isshin Kurosaki, but hypothetically speaking, Nejibana's potential presence might be the explanation why. The union between mind and soul is not jeopardized by a lack of memory because those memories still exist, contained somewhere within Kaien's subconscious - contained within Nejibana.

That would also neatly explain Kaien's phenomenal growth rate despite his largely dormant powers; he's not spontaneously developing advanced skills through instinct like Ichigo, simply marshalling the old ones already at his command.

In which case, all that's required to avert a potential catastrophe is to discover the right key to unlock the rest (which would undoubtedly lead to very illuminating conversations in the near future).

Kisuke doubts it will be that easy, nothing ever is. But if his theory is proven correct, then he can do a lot more than save a friend's son. And in the grand scheme, it would mean the return of a vital ally in this shadow war against Sosuke Aizen.

Either way, Kisuke files those thoughts away for later speculation. He has no doubt he'll have is answers in the coming days.

Returning his attention to the present, he gives a measured nod. "Its a natural doubt to have, I suppose. But this world you're about to step into is quite the unusual one. Such anomalies are often par for the course."

Kaien remains unconvinced, "I'll have to take your word for it."

"Very well then. Shall we get started?" Kisuke announces brightly, rising from his place, flipping his cane around and hooking it under a tatami mat to reveal the access ladder to the hidden training chamber below.

"Holy crap!"

Kisuke hides his entertained grin behind his fan while the flabbergasted teen takes in the full scope of his underground training hall.

A sizable chamber filled with brown rocky terrain and thin withering trees winding their way through cracks like gnarled fingers. Artificial daylight shines down from the equally artificial blue sky above which simulates a pleasant albeit partially cloudy day. Even the room temperature has been regulated to maintain a comfortable twenty degrees Celsius.

"My, what a splendid reaction! I take it then you're suitably impressed by my wonderful study hall?" Kisuke teases.

"Yeah, a bit." Kaien whistles.

Kisuke allows him to be awestruck by his surroundings for the time being, thoroughly amused by how the apprehension from a few moments ago completely vanished. Exactly like a child distracted by the latest shiniest toy.

Ururu, Jinta and Tessai wait a short distance away. Jinta obviously made a rude comment under his breath because Tessai just gave him a thump on the head.

"Building inspectors are gonna be on your ass for breaking god-only-knows how many zoning laws and council regulations but holy crap... Did you use kido to make this?" Kaien turns to him with a native inquisitiveness that Kisuke deems both a blessing and a curse.

"Yes. Observant. A touch of kido to enhance the painted sky effect." Kisuke admits proudly, aiming the tip of his cane upwards. "As for the rest? That's from a combination of the swankiest new technology on the market and sheer grit. I managed to get this done all in one night."

"Oh, that is cool." Kaien is momentarily taken by wonder.

"Don't you think? I designed it especially for you and your brother. I might've broken a bone or two in its construction." Kisuke reveals.

"For the both of us?" Kaien quizzically tilts his head.

"Indeed. Ichigo's power is growing and so will yours before long. I'm sure you saw what happened when he fought the Menos Grande." Kisuke reminds him sagely, "I built this room because I anticipated you would require assistance in controlling and mastering your powers. To that end, the walls and ceiling are reinforced with a special composite that absorbs and disperses any excess reiatsu. You can smash and destroy as much as you please with reckless abandon."

"That's unexpectedly altruistic."

Kisuke waved his fan with that trademark fool's grin, "Oh come now, didn't I already tell you earlier? We at Urahara Shop always endeavor to keep our customer's best interests to heart."

Kaien offers a slanted smile before turning to take in the chamber with a fortifying breath.

Kisuke spies his pensive expression and asks neutrally, "Are you having doubts?"

The teenager does a double-take, seemingly not registering the question before taking ten seconds to compose an answer. "No, not doubts per se. Just, uh... kind of absorbing the situation. Little kids like to dream about having powers for one reason or another, but that's usually a childhood fantasy that never amounts to much."

"But you are neither an ordinary child nor is your power an idle flight of fancy." Kisuke rightfully points out.

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that too." The confession comes out before Kaien could stop himself but he plays it off coolly, "But those are questions for another time. You've already warned me once about being too curious for my own good, haven't you?"

"I'm glad to see you've already taken my first lesson to heart. You're learning." Kisuke gives him full marks for that recovery.

"That and you honestly scare the shit out of me. I fully believe that if I ever crossed you, you could destroy me with your pinkie. So I figure any free advice you give I'm happily taking."

Kisuke arches an eyebrow at the frank confession.

"... you're rather direct, aren't you?" It isn't a compliment.

Being artlessly blunt and straightforward seems to be yet another trait that's crossed the lifetimes. Or it might be in the Shiba DNA.

"I don't like beating around the bush." Kaien replies evenly, scratching the back of his head.

After another five seconds Kaien turns back to the Shopkeeper. "I do have one last question: That Menos Grande thing, if I manage to pull this off and get my powers; will I be able to fend off monsters like that too?"

Kisuke tips his hat down to shield his eyes, wearing an enigmatic smile. "Ah, I see now. Your concern isn't for yourself, it's for your brother."

Kaien shrugs a shoulder, "If those are the kinds of monsters Ichi's going to tangle with from now on, I wanna know that I'll be strong enough to play in that sandpit. And while Ichigo's running around protecting everyone, I'll protect him."

"An admirable stance. And altogether expected. However monsters like that are a rare occurrence, you needn't trouble yourself with them right now." Kisuke allows himself an indulgent chuckle. "But if it sets your mind at ease, I shall give you the honest truth. By the time we've concluded our week together, I anticipate - no, I expect hollows like that will be child's play for you."

Kaien's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He contemplates this solemnly for a moment then gives a satisfied nod to himself. "Alright then. Lets get this show on the road. How do we get started?"

"My, I'm glad you asked!" Kisuke grins cheekily when his cane jabs his forehead without warning, propelling the soul from the body.

Kisuke might've enjoyed that startled expression a bit too much.

"Ah! That hurt, damn it! What the-?" The teenager pushed himself onto haunches only to spot the silver-grey chain on his sternum, leading back to his physical body laying unnaturally still like a puppet with its strings cut. Kisuke's amused at the fleeting child-like curiosity when Kaien gives the chain an experimental tug. "Okay. Um... morbidly terrifying."

"As you can see, you're bound to your body by that chain of fate," Kisuke points his cane to Kaien's lifeless cadaver, "Do you have any issues moving in that form? Any difficulty breathing?"

Kaien shakes his head, bouncing to his feet, "No. Am I supposed to? I hope you had some kind of point for knocking me out of my body. I better be able to go back when all's said and done."

"You will. Have no fear of that. But for you to gain use of your powers, we need to destroy this chain binding you first." Kisuke then pins Kaien in place with his penetrating gaze, the tip of his cane hovering over a link in the chain of fate. "Last chance to back out."

No doubt Kaien was about to launch into another hurricane of questions but his mouth clamps shut. "Fine. Do it."

With a single blow, Kisuke severs his soul chain. The teenager winces at the motion.

No turning back now.

"Alright, my chain's broken. Now what?"

"I'm glad you asked." Kisuke snaps his fan shut, "Are we ready~?" He announces to the open space, enjoying his theatrical performance. Two meters to their right, a perfect circle of dirt disappears into a deep dark pit.

"Wha-?!" Kaien jumps when it appears, mouth flopping like a fish before he relents, shoulders slumping. "You know what, I'm not even questioning it anymore."

"No need to trouble yourself. It will all make sense in a moment. But first, Tessai?" Kisuke prompts.

Tessai approaches and hands an object off to the younger Kurosaki twin.

"A katana?" Kaien looks between the sheathed weapon, Kisuke and Tessai with that puzzled expression.

It's a standard Asauchi that Kisuke privately procured through a few old underground contacts some time ago. As per the standard template, its hilt is decorated by a navy silk wrap and a featureless bronze tsuba.

"You're going to take that sword with you to the bottom of the Shattered shaft and climb your way back out."

Kaien tilts his head. "I'm so confused."

"Allow me to explain with a metaphor. Right now think of your humanity is a gateway. Passive exposure to Ichigo reiatsu has wedged that door open a crack, allowing a sliver of your latent potential to leak out and affect your human self, hence your display of power the other day against that Hollow. The goal of this training is to blast that door off its hinges via a method called encroachment. The ends of your chain of fate will start eroding away until it reaches your chest."

"For a normal soul, this process takes months or even years. But at the bottom of the Shattered Shaft, that duration is shorten to a maximum of three days." Kisuke explains patiently. "At which point, whatever path you choose is entirely up to you; emerge victorious as a Shinigami... or be slain as a Hollow."

Kaien stares at him with open mouthed horror, "... that's messed up, man."

"Does that mean you'll refuse to go through with this after all?" Kisuke asks rhetorically. He already knows the answer.

"No. But it does make things incredibly simple." Kaien responds, glancing towards the pit.

"I'm glad you agree. Now I must explain there's one important rule to this lesson and that is - hey, wait a minute!" Kisuke protests then sags, finishing with a small incredulous voice. "... He jumped."

The fearless fool. The Shopkeeper approached the edge, bewildered, and peers down, joined by his three companions. Belatedly, he examines the hole itself. "It's awfully deep..."

"I gave it my all!" Ururu cheers with a small fist pump, brandishing her shovel.

A panicked echoing scream reaches their ears, "How deep does this thing goooooooo-?!"

THWACK!

They wince sympathetically at the echoing impact, followed by a withering, "E'ermin'. F'und 'he b'tt'm."

"His fault for jumping in like an brainless idiot." Jinta mutters, hands cupped behind his head.

Kisuke tips his hat down, clicks his tongue and mutters quietly to himself, "Some things transcend lifetimes, don't they...?"

"Without a doubt." Tessai agrees at a low rumble then inclines his head.


What a rotten job.

That's Renji Abarai's standing opinion on the matter ever since the orders were handed down from Central 46.

As he heard it, it started as a routine patrol mission. Four weeks in the world of the living to get some solo battle experience. But four weeks became five. Then six. Then eight.

After two whole months, Rukia Kuchiki was declared Absent Without Leave. It felt wrong. The idea of Rukia Kuchiki deserting her post is ludicrous, yet murmurs and whispered accusations circled around. Curiously enough, orders were being sent out and the designated hollows were being slain shortly afterwards, so it was clear that someone must've been acting upon them. But for whatever reason any return order was met with silence.

The top brass were up in arms about it.

Rumour has it that even the great Kuchiki clan were getting testy about their missing adopted heiress.

Privately, Renji wanted to know what the hell kind of game Rukia was playing. She was worrying them all sick. But he couldn't go galivanting off like an upstart neophyte anymore, or an 11th Division ruffian ready to bust heads.

He's a Lieutenant now, a newly promoted one at that in a newly assigned division with barely a month on his tenure. He still hadn't established himself within his new division or ingratiated himself to the fellow seated officers, let alone earned enough clout to go chasing after his old childhood friend on a whim.

Of course, Central 46 took that decision away from him.

"Take Rukia Kuchiki of Squad 13, dead of alive," Renji reads the orders once more out loud, and once again to himself with his lips set in a grim line, "Seems a bit harsh to me."

Not that he's in any position to question the orders. The best Renji can do is keep his complaints and misgivings quietly to himself and hope that this mission doesn't take the worst possible turn.

Knowing his luck, it absolutely will. Although as much as he's angry and disappointed that its come to this, he's more outraged towards the human whelps who caused this mess to begin with.

Humans, of all things!

According to Central 46's assignment; there were two more targets on their list. Two humans whom the Omnitsukido identified as holding Rukia Kuchiki hostage. Twin brothers named Kurosaki, the report said. Beyond that familial name, the details were shockingly sparse. Which is something totally uncharacteristic of the omnipotent stealth force.

With how lousy their reports have been lately, I wouldn't be surprised if Central 46 cut their funding again, Renji muses morbidly to himself.

Regardless of the truth, Rukia would come running. She would escape and run. Because of course the idea of her, adopted and educated into the Kuchiki clan, willingly consorting with humans is already inconceivable. Moreover, the fact she'd allowed two humans, two adolescent boys taking advantage of her -

Renji cuts his thoughts off there, forcing the distasteful image out of his head. But he allows the perceived indignity to fuel his own righteous fury. He refocuses himself on the task at hand. His personal moral outrage can come later.

Their secondary mission is to find the two humans. Find them and kill them.

After that, Rukia is to be dragged back for court martial.

Will she be imprisoned? Certainly. Chucked in Muken? Possibly. Executed? It's... on the cards. But Captain Kuchiki is her elder brother and Captain Ukitake would push for a lighter sentence. Together, they would appeal the decision and protect Rukia from the worst of the fallout. It'll go on her permanent record and she might have to suffer a couple decades imprisoned, but they're protect her. Renji's sure of it...

They cross the senkaimon's threshold, accompanied by two jibokucho, and enter the world of the living. Renji feels the automatic limiters placed on his power and its uncomfortably restricting. Captain Kuchiki puts him back on task. According to their reports, one of the Kurosaki brothers routinely hiked the trails in the surrounding hillside. That's the first place they will investigate. Skulking about like a common Omnitsukido assassin doesn't suit someone like Renji, but orders were orders. Maybe the brats might give him some sport before Renji kills them.


Kaien regains consciousness after consigning himself to the mercy of the Shattered Shaft.

"Ouch... feels like I belly flopped into the pool from the tenth floor..." Kaien groans.

Jumping was not his smartest idea ever. His eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the darkness and when he glances upwards, he spies the sword Kisuke gave him laying a meter away from his head. Okay, all he has to do is use that thing and get the hell out of here. Seems simple enough. Sucking in a breath and ignoring a dull ache in his chest, he peels himself off the ground. Or tries to.

He can't move his arms! He can't feel them! A chill of panic runs down his spine and when he glances back, he sees they're bound. Thick black straps winding around his limbs, pulled taut by thick silver anchors that pierce through the entire flesh of his arms. "What in the hell is this?! Why are my arms tied?!"

"This is the rule of the Shattered Shaft. Before the time limit of 72 hours is over, you must climb out of there without using your arms." Kisuke says from his perch a couple dozen metres above, "Until then, your arms will be sealed."

"Are you kidding me?! You didn't tell me that part!" Kaien barks furiously, managing to push himself onto his knees.

"You jumped in before I could." Kisuke points out innocently, taking the wind right out of his sails. "I'll give you credit. You have more patience than your twin but you're as hot-headed as each other when push comes to shove, aren't you?"

"Bite me." Kaien grouses.

"To answer your question; your arms are bound to heighten the danger. The goal is to use that danger as a lure to draw out your Shinigami powers and imprint them onto a conduit. In essence, you must coax your Zanpakutou spirit into claiming the sword Tessai gave you."

"The easiest way to climb out of this pit is bribing my Zanpakutou spirit with a shiny new house. Is that what you're telling me?" Kaien gripes, glaring at the blade.

"Apt metaphor. You're completely correct." Kisuke confirms brightly.

Kaien grumbles under his breath before tossing his demand out, "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

"You're an intuitive young man. I'm sure you'll find the answer yourself. But I suggest doing it quickly. The encroachment will begin any second now."

No sooner had Kisuke finished speaking, pain explodes in Kaien's chest. It spreads to every cell in his (spirit?) body, overwhelming him. He collapses onto his side, writhing as a dozen tiny mouths at the end of the chain began devouring themselves. It lasts for thirty seconds at most but stretches for an eternity. He pants. He couldn't move, could barely breath through the agony before the tiny mouths revert back to silvery grey chains.

Kaien scowls up at the shopkeeper, pushing his words out through pain-grit teeth, "For the record; I hate you."


"Kaien said I could play Majora's Mask after I'd finished Ocarina of Time." Karin explains, waving the loaned Gameboy in her hand demonstratively.

Ichigo sighs and allows her into their joint bedroom. He plops himself down on Kaien's desk chair, leaning on Kaien's desk with his chin propped up on one hand while watching his little sister.

Karin pulls out draw under hidden under the bed where Kaien kept most of his electronics in a tangled heap of organized chaos.

"There. Under the console controller." Ichigo, leans over the tray of food he'd left on Kaien's desk, to indicate at the small plastic case.

The food was intended for Rukia but she's been out since this afternoon. Ichigo's not seen or heard from her since. That's not particularly unusual or anything. She has a habit of disappearing on occasion but she's typically back by dinner time. As it stands, its well past eight in the evening and the food Ichigo saved for her is tepid.

"You forgot he wasn't coming home tonight, didn't you?" Karin questions, plucking the game case out of the drawer and closing it up again.

Ichigo gives her a look. "No." He says, but he knows Karin won't believe him.

She'll believe the tray of food was for meant for their brother, instead of the secret third cohabitant of their room. It'll be a source of ribbing for the next couple days until Kaien gets back. At which point, Karin will tell Ichigo's twin about the event and he'll take over the merciless teasing and ribbing. Meanwhile, Karin will kick back and watch the fireworks.

Like Yuzu, sometimes Ichigo wonders if Karin is her own brand of genius. Just as Yuzu has them wrapped around her finger (which they'll never admit out loud), Karin seems to enjoys her elder twin brothers' squabbling, egging them on at every opportunity despite the pretense otherwise. Especially since they know almost no one can get under Ichigo's skin better than Kaien.

"You miss him." Karin points in a deadpan tone. "You always sit at his desk whenever he's away on his training camps."

"I do not." Ichigo protests, lying.

"Hey, he does the same." Karin reveals casually, switching on the Gameboy. "Whenever you're away, he's sitting at your desk waiting for you to get back. Kind of pathetic really. Like a couple of kicked puppies."

"Oh har har." Ichigo grouses.

Karin thanks him, bids him good night and makes her way out.

Ichigo sighs when the door closes behind her. He glances down at the meal then reluctantly plucks the chopsticks between his fingers to eat. Rukia obviously isn't coming back tonight and Ichigo's not about to let food go to waste.

Its an effort and he feels bloated afterwards but Ichigo manages to force it all down. Taking a few minutes to let his stomach settle, Ichigo takes the empty tray downstairs for washing up. Once he's done, he returns to his room and picks up a book from his shelf, pointedly refusing to sit at his brother's desk. He doesn't discover a hastily written gibberish note from Rukia on his own desk until much later in the night, as he's about to go to sleep.


What in the hell is going on?

First Ichigo's sword disappeared just as he's about to beat Renji for good, somehow ending up in Rukia's older brother's hand. Then when Kuchiki takes hold of his sword, disappearing from sight, Ichigo's chest exploded in a fountain of blood.

It took him a few seconds to register he'd been attacked at all. He couldn't tell if the strike came from in front or behind him. Ichigo's body toppled forward, slow and lethargic. As if to kick him when he's done, another piercing strike cut through his chest. More blood splashed on the rain-soaked cobblestones. Ichigo collapsed a powerless heap, mouth slack and struggling to breath.

His body won't move. He's overwhelmed with so much agony. He's still trying to comprehend what occurred.

It happened in a literal flash.

The two Shinigami bastards, Renji Abarai and Rukia's so-called brother Byakuya Kuchiki, talk around him as though he doesn't exist. Ichigo tries to stop them from leaving, fingers clawing at Byakuya's hakama. He snarled his defiance at the self-righteous pricks. When Rukia charged across and kicked his hand off and chastises him, Ichigo is shocked but she refused to look him in the eye.

In a switch, Rukia speaks in a dead monotone, "Let us go brother... I will go back to the Soul Society to face the consequence of my sins. This human will soon die, and I recognise the error of my ways."

"R-Rukia... why are you-"

Renji's foot steps between his shoulder blades, roughly pushing Ichigo back down. "Give it up, kid. She's just saved the rest of your short worthless life."

Ichigo growls, anger mingling with pain.

"Very well. I shall leave him be. Those attacks were severe. I have shattered his soul chain and soul sleep. Even by chance he were to live, all trace of reiryoku will be gone. He will be an ordinary human." Byakuya explains in that obnoxious self-important tone that makes Ichigo want to crawl over and bite his limbs off. "All mission objectives here are concluded. The Omnitsukido will collect the incarnate's body later for proper disposal."

The incarnate. What did that mean? Ichigo doesn't have time to question it before Rukia provides that answer for him.

"... Kaien..." What's left of Rukia's composure and will to resist shatters completely with that heartbroken little whisper, barely audible through the rain.

Ichigo's world stops dead. His blood turns to ice as his mind conjures up the worst possible scenario.

"Wait... What did you do...?" His voice is impossibly small while his mind tries to process what he'd just heard. "What did you do to him...?"

"Huh?" Far from that shocked expression a few minutes ago, Renji wears an anger sneer, sparing an irritated glance his way but Ichigo couldn't care less.

Anger fuels his mangled body, a fresh new agony drenches every word. "What did you do to Kaien?! Why did you do to my brother, you filthy bastards!? He had nothing to do with this! Answer me, you son of a bitch!"

"Give it up, kid. You'll die in a few minutes. Do us the favour of doing it quietly." The red-haired Shinigami throws over his shoulder. A glowing portal materialises before them where a trio of black butterflies flutter into view.

Rukia is completely despondent, downcast and spirit broken. "Don't follow me Ichigo... or I'll... I'll never forgive you..."

The last thing he sees is her broken tear streaked face as the portals close, swallowing the three of them.

Something inside Ichigo breaks and he roars his frustrated rage at the heavens.


It hurts.

It hurts so much.

And it's cold. His body feels too heavy to move.

His lifeblood flows freely from wounds Ichigo had neither strength nor ability to stop.

Despair coils its way through his insides. The bleeding won't stop. Nor will the silent despairing tears pouring down his face from half-hooded unfocused eyes. He grits his teeth, it takes all his strength to do that, and they start to chatter in the cold.

Rukia... Rukia is gone. Ichigo came here to protect her, only for her to give herself up, protecting his worthless hide instead. And Kaien is... His brother-

Ichigo's brother is -

What would he tell his sisters? What can he tell his father? The Shinigami... why did they-?

Why would they-?

"ICHIGO!"

The wail is distant to his ears. As are the heavy splashing that sounds like footfalls. Someone is approaching at dead sprint, followed by a final heavy swishing of water as that same person comes to a skidding halt. The voice cuts through a modicum of the malaise and those unfocused eyes try to shift upwards. He's... vaguely aware of being turned over, cradled in someone's arms.

He's close to death.

He must be.

He's hallucinating.

Those bastards said they killed him. Kaien shouldn't be here.

But he is. Drenched to the skin, hair plastered to his face in the downpour and tears streaming down his cheeks. Kaien is crying? Ridiculous. His brother never cries. Ichigo can't hear him but he's shouting and pleading as darkness clouds the edge of Ichigo's vision.

As the void of death looms, maybe Ichigo's mind is giving him this one last comfort (or torment) by allowing him to see his brother - the closest person to him in the whole world - one last time. As twins, they came into the world together. Seems only fitting they leave it together, right?

Only...

... Why was Kaien wearing a Shihakushou?


Author's note:

Kaien gains power just in time to watch Ichigo lose his. Ain't I a stinker? As for Kaien actually gaining his powers? We'll see that next chapter. :D

Regards,

Aurora313