Ichigo took a deep breath as he watched the destruction around him. The sky was to bright and blue considering the war they had just fought. Silence rung out over the battlefield. The Seal holding Aizen was standing right in front of him. Kisuke just a few steps to his right. He didn't make a sound. Instead staring off into the distance.
"Is it over?" Ichigo finally asked, turning towards his mentor and friend. Kisuke slowly lowered his head, Hat for once not adorning his ash blond hair as he nodded his consent. Ichigo closed his eyes and let the breeze ruffle through his long orange hair.
"Will you lose them?" Kisuke asked quietly. If one would have known to look they would have seen the pain and remorse in his grey eyes as he looked at his student.
"No." Ichigo said. Kisukes eyes widened as he stared at Ichigo.
"But you used Mugetsu…shouldn't you lose your…your Shinigami Powers as a result?" He asked, millions of questions ringing through his brilliant mind as he drew up conclusions and discarded them just as quickly.
"I have offered Zangetsu something else instead." Ichigo said softly.
"Something else?" Kisuke whispered. In the distance he could here the commotion of people, making their way to the place they were currently standing in. It looked more like ground zero than a mountain side now.
"What did you offer him, Ichigo?" Kisuke asked, dreading his students answer. When Ichigo turned around there was pain in his eyes. A soul deep pain, that seemed so much older than this young Soul could possibly be. Ichigo smiled at Kisuke, orange fringe brushing his cheeks as dimples formed and eyes closed in a pain filled smile.
"My life." Ichigo said. And Kisuke stared. His eyes widened as he turned towards the Karakura city, stretching out his Reiatsu in panic, searching for the remnants of Ichigo's Reiatsu that should linger in his real body. His own shop, the last door to the right, on a soft cotton futon. Laid a dead body.
"Ichigo…" Kisuke whispered, remorse in his tone as he looked at his student once again.
"You won't be able to go back." Kisuke said, voice still soft and full of sorrow.
"I know." Ichigo said solemnly.
Turning towards the mass of people making their way to their side. Some of them waving and cheering. Sometime during Ichigos fight the remaining people stuck in Hueco Mundo must have made their way back, for Kenpachi and Byakuya were among those rushing towards them.
"Yo!" Ichigo called out, smirk on his face. If one would know where to look they could have seen the pain lingering in his brown eyes.
The reactions varied as he told them of the price he had paid in order to defeat Aizen. Chad, Uryu and Orihime had looked at him with various degrees of shock and sadness. Telling him to visit often or in Uryus case telling him to 'escape to them if the Shinigami ever got too much". Isshin clapped him on the shoulder and hugged him like he hadn't done in years, telling him how proud he was of his son.
Most of his Shinigami friends seemed to be unable to decide whether they should be sad or happy to have Ichigo among their midst. Ichigo had watched as he saw his friends chat and hug and argue with one another. Some still bleeding but otherwise fine and he smiled. This was what he had fought to protect. There was nothing to regret.
"Kisuke!" Ichigo frowned as he turned towards a familiar voice, but the tone which had been used was what had caught his attention. Ukitake was standing there, blood still coating his Haori and uniform, his face seemed paler than before and the look in his eyes spoke of shock and pain.
"Juushiro." Kisuke whispered back. In the next second Kisuke was on the ground an armful of Shinigami Captain clinging to him. Shunsui stepped up kneeling next to the two of them and collected both of them in his arms. Pulling them closer as his long brown hair fell into his face, not obscured by his beloved hat.
"Don't I feel left out." A drawling voice spoke, strain still evident. Shinji, pushing past a few Soul reapers watching the reunion in surprise, said. He was clutching at his bleeding shoulder but simply let himself fall forward into the waiting arms of his lovers as he was included into Juushiros grip of death.
"Hush hush." Shinji mumbled stroking his white hair as he calmed down their distraught lover. Ichigo finally understood the implications and grinned a little, with a wave of his hand he shooed away the Shinigami still watching the reunion, giving them a little privacy.
"We thought you were dead." Juushiro whispered into Kisukes neck but tightened his hold on both of their lovers.
"That what the central has told you, yes?" Shinji asked him softly. Juushiro nodded still hiding his face. Shunsui looked at them, his grey eyes darker than usual.
"Where have you been?" He asked, accusation nonexistent only pained curiosity.
"We can safe the talk for later." Kisuke broke in. "This is hardly the place for this." He continued expecting a herd of Shinigami staring at them in shock, disgust and confusion. When he looked up he found that for some reason they had all cleared out giving them at least 30 meters of radius to speak in private.
Someone cleared their throat to their right. Ichigo was standing there, leaning against a broken piece of house.
"Not meaning to interrupt but if some of you need healing, Orihime is free right now." Was all he said before seemingly vanishing into thin air. They hadn't been able to feel his Reiatsu. Juushiro blinked in surprise at the place Ichigo had been standing in.
"Has he finally learned how to control it?" He asked, puzzlement on his face.
"No…" Kisuke answered softly. "It is too high for us to feel." Juushiro, Shunsui and Shinji turned towards him in surprise.
"Too high?" Juushiro asked.
"He used a technique called the Final Getsuga Tensho. It allowed him to reach the same level Aizen had. A being stronger than anything known before. But it has a price. Normally this price would have been for him to lose his Shinigami Powers but…" Kiuske trailed off.
Juushiro and the others were staring at him mesmerized.
"But…?" Shinji prompted.
"He has chosen to give his life instead." Kisuke whispered staring at the place his student had been in before. Juushiro gasped and Shunsui stared. Shinji lowered his head. "This idiot." He mumbled. Juushiro looked down, his brown eyes filled with sadness. "He really is…special." He said softly.
Ichigo sighed as he made his way through the Gate to Soul Society. Kisuke and Shinji were ahead of him chatting about nothing with duffle bags slung over their shoulders, similar to the one Ichigo was carrying. This was it. His last day in the human world had just ended. The entirety of the Vizards as well as Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai had been pardoned and allowed back into the Soul Society.
To the great shock of many Kurotsuchi Mayuri had been degraded and Kisuke Urahara was offered the job. One look at Shinji had been enough to tell him that he should say yes. And he did. But the surprises didn't stop there Shinji was offered the position of Captain of the fifth again. Rose and Love filled out the remaining two open seats.
Ichigo had been a little lost but the Soutaichou had him surprised again as he invited him over for a chat. It ended up with the Soutaichou letting Ichigo join the Academy, out of his own volition as Ichigo had always felt like he had missed something out and wanted to improve his atrocious Kido spells. On top of that if he officially graduated from the Academy nobody would ever call him a substitute again. The Soutaichou had made it clear to Ichigo that he was to go to the graduating class right from the start since it wouldn't make much sense to stick him together with people hardly trained to hold their Swords properly.
"Oi, Ichigo! Hurry up!" Shinji yelled up ahead waving at Ichigo to catch up with them. Ichigo gave another sigh before simply vanishing and reappearing right next to Shinji looking at him expectantly.
"Yes?" He asked, brown eyes filled with calmness. Since he had fused together with his other two parts he had been calmer, more collected. A trait he knew he had picked up from Zangetsu. He assessed people more easily now, read into situations and emotions, formed strategies even.
"You…" Shinji simply said, clutching at his heart for Ichigos sudden appearance had startled him.
Kisuke chuckled but watched his student out of the corner of his eyes. He had noticed the changes but knew that they were inevitable, he just hoped that Ichigo would turn back to normal soon, closing his eyes briefly Kisuke continued towards the bright light awaiting them at the end of the tunnel. It had been a long time since he had last been…home.
Stepping outside they all shielded their faces against the sudden light.
"Yahooo!" They heard a voice to their right. Shunsui was waving at them with his usual exuberance. Juushiro at his side and smiling happily. Ichigo watched and couldn't help the smile as Kisuke and Shinji rushed over to them and started chatting away. He turned into the direction of the Academy and headed off.
"Ichigo!" He heard a voice behind him and turned around. Juushiro was standing a few meters away the others behind him.
"Mind joining us tonight?" He asked, smile still bright. Ichigo blinked in surprise.
"Students aren't allowed to leave the residence without permission from their teacher or without having leave. I have neither." He informed him calmly. The old Ichigo would have looked surprised, he would have been embarrassed and stuttered and answer. But the old Ichigo was no longer here. Juushiro blinked a little in surprise at his almost clinical tone of voice.
"Ahh, I see. Some other day then maybe." He said, scratching his neck.
"Maybe." Ichigo simply echoed before turning back around and walking away.
"He sure has changed a lot." Shinji commented lowly.
"It is his Zanpakuto." Kisuke told them softly.
"What do you mean?" Shunsui asked.
"Zangetsu has always allowed Ichigo to look into the hearts of his opponents. It is how Ichigo distinguishes between people who truly want to harm him and those who at their heart are not fighting him with malicious intent. The Final Getsuga Tensho, called Mugetsu, it allows the caster to become one with his Zanpakuto. Ichigos soul right now is still trying to detangle itself form that of his Zanpakuto. As a result, he takes over some of it's characteristics." Kisuke explained, watching his student go.
"Will he turn back to normal?" Shinji asked.
"I don't know. Nobody has ever kept their powers after using Mugetsu. But it is my best guess that Ichigo and Zangetsu will split into two separate beings again. But the process could be extremely painful. It is like splitting your own soul apart." Kisuke said, ideas forming in his head.
"Hmm…" Shunsui made a sound in the back of his throat. "Let's keep an eye out for our little strawberry then." He told them, grinning a little. The others nodded their consent as they set off into the direction of their home.
A/N: Thanks for reading guys! Hope you enjoyed it! Chapter 9 is already in the making.
As always thank you for your Reviews and Support! You are the best!
~ Sal
