"Ichigo! Quit dawdling and pass that tape, for the third and final time!"

I leapt from my seat and flashed the glare at the old man, resisting the temptation to kick him in the face in front of a patient. That patient stared wide eyed and fearful at the doctor, who'd just screamed in his son's ear.

"Get it yourself, its right there!" I retorted violently, stabbing a finger at the role on the arm of the couch on which my father was working. Isshin stood up in a second, and a sharp pain radiated through my head upon impact. "If you wanna train, train. If not, get the hell out and stop forcing my patient to have to look at your face!"

I turned away, and felt the childish petulance and anger flow through me as I crossed my arms, face searing with fire. "if he hasn't fainted at your ugly mug then mine is just fine," I mumbled, and although I knew that both he and the man on the couch heard it, I felt the need to shout it back at him. I pretty much egged him on in my head.

Go on, say, 'what was that?'

Only he didn't, and sat back in his seat. "We'll have words in a few seconds. Sir, you're good to go."

The man nodded his shivering bespectacled head, and practically ran from the mad house. Silence ensued, and I knew that this conversation wasn't for any ignorant human resident of Karakura town to be a party to.

Isshin sighed heavily, and stood. "Just because you've lost your powers, doesn't mean that you have to be an ass around my patients." His gruff voice was unusually serious. It reminded me of the time he taught me in the precipice the technique that would rid me of my powers. Part of me resented him, and part of me knew that I should be grateful to be a normal kid again. The other fractured parts had ambiguous emotions. I maintained my eye contact with the plant pot on the windowsill, a 90 degree angle from my father's eyes. I held them open until they felt sore, and I blinked.

"I feel useless like this."

Ever the stern father figure, he removed his coat to signal that his working day was over. There would be more to treat tomorrow, and now he needed to cut off from that world. He flashed from sight, and I sat back down. This was one of the times I needed Rukia to appear, for that door to appear and open and reveal her figure in the glowing light. It had been months since that dwarf dematerialised from sight, and I'd almost allowed myself to think she'd get Urahara to knock her up a fake body. It was ridiculous for her to think it was too dangerous for the shinigami. In fact, we needed them. It was even more ridiculous for them to be them, and not 'us'.

Allowing my head to lollop back on to the back of the sofa, I closed my eyes, and forced myself into the memory of the old days, not yet 17 months ago, when it would be me the others would rely on for saving them, and not me on them. Now, we had what the movies called zombies, or whatever they were. Lifeless, living dead, The Pales….no, sounded like a pop group.

But Zombies didn't seem to fit them. Not because they didn't match the convention. They did, but, there was something else. The timing, for example. Within 2 weeks of defeating Aizen, they began popping up. At first, there were only a few, people who'd probably died from the reitsu, or the blasts from above.

Second, was that I'd seen one of them, and recognised him. I'd recognised him as one of the Espada, Starrk? Probably. But id been too much in shock to realise until arriving home, just to think.

His appearance was really what seemed to make matters worse to me; from then on, their numbers increased, until we came to be holed up in Ishida's father's hospital. Home from home, but it lacked the spirit of my old room we'd have meetings in, the kitchen Yuzu used to cook in, and Karin…

Poor Karin.

Her screams still filled my ears at night, that voice always so sardonic, and yet it seemed to grow up overnight to one with rightful sarcasm. She'd seen it all. My only comforting thought was that I might find her one day, if ever I were to return to the Soul Society. She'd make a pretty badass soul reaper.

I sighed a heavy sigh, too heavy for my 17 year old voice, and threw my legs back in to stand. Grabbing my coat and baseball bat next to the couch, I pulled apart the formally automatic doors that would always find a way of recoiling again. "I'm going out!" I called, and my voice reverberated back to me. Id never figured out why that seemed like such a lonely sound, but it was.

…

I'd never made the journey from Mr Ishida's hospital to the shop, but it sure gave me new sights of what was left of Karakura town. Every store was empty, looted and now lost of its potential goods. Windows smashed for whatever reason, knocked over trash cans and trash strewn out all over the roads. Must have been the panic of being vulnerable in such a built up area.

I avoided giving a glance at the abandoned school beyond the gates, and shortly found my way to the shop. It was one small advantage of being acquainted with shinigami; they were very, very difficult to kill. Sure as hell not to be finished off by something long dead.

"Urahara," I said quietly, my voice deep and grave. The man was, unpredictably and yet not surprisingly sat on the roof of the shop, fully intact and protected. He wore the same clogs, the same robe, the same hat, shielding in the same way the eyes beneath, hidden behind the familiar hand fan. He was crouched in a way that looked unsecure on the slanted surface, but he didn't falter. I felt expected.

"Long time no see, Ichigo." I could detect the small amount of humour usually within his voice. It suddenly felt like only a week since I'd seen him last, not months.

I shifted uncomfortably beneath the stare I was sure was on me, looking away. "Yeah. I guess it has."

"You've grown, am I wrong?"

"It's only natural, it's what happens at certain ages, old man."

A small breeze flew by, and I looked up slightly. I noticed something strange about the floor. The rocks, they seemed to be forming a circle of shadows. A perfect circle.

"That's not what I meant." A sharp whoosh followed, and the next I knew I was on the floor. A sharp pain grew over every part of my face, and I opened my eyes fast and wide to the bottom of a clog.

"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

Urahara was now fully visible, missing the hand fan, and he slowly lowered his leg as I helped myself back up. As I felt my nose begin to trickle, I noticed his grim smile. "I'm not sure I'm the old man of us now, Ichigo. You've abandoned your training when you most need it."

"I didn't expect a foot to the face!"

"But you should!" he announced enthusiastically, "You should expect everything around you to attack you at any moment! You are useless on your own in this state, even with that," he motioned to the baseball bat, discarded next to the indent in the ground I'd left. I felt the anger become more stubborn than natural, simply out of principle. I knew he was right, but right now I had a busted nose and he was to blame.

"You bastard," I growled, but I didn't dare attack.

He lowered his hat further over his eyes, until only his grin was concealed. "You've finally learned to admit you're wrong, Ichigo. I guess that's a good thing. Come inside, ill get Tessai."

He spun with enviable speed, his ash blond hair waving behind. I thought as I followed that right now, I felt like I was the change within a completely familiar situation. It was only apparent now, I'd lost hope. I'd weakened, and they'd all found a way to survive without me. I'd weakened because they had.

I looked up, and Urahara had disappeared within the shop, suspiciously fully stocked. A tall figure stood in the dark hall in the corner, the only light on him glinting on his glances. "Mr Kurosaki," his gruff voice observed. That was when I noticed the tray. "Please, let me fix that for you."

I followed him into the familiar room, and in my head I saw visions of Uryu, Chad, Orihime and Rukia sat around the table, listening and discussing over coffee. Tessai motioned to one of the seats, and I followed suit as he did. I panicked as his huge hands headed towards my face, and I knew what would happen next. "This wont hurt, Ichigo," his neutral voice assured, but I knew this man was not to be trusted. Urahara had explained once before the fiasco with the out of date medicine.

…

A wave of sickness hit me, and my eyes drifted open. Déjà vu followed, and I yelled straight into Tessai's face, inches from mine in disinterested concern. He didn't flinch, and when I stopped screaming, he spoke. "He's awake."

As my pulse slowed down, I realised I was lying on my back, and sat up, rubbing my head. "What happened?"

"You fainted, the very essence of a 40's actress," Urahara answered from the doorway, just behind. I could tell he was stifling a laugh.

"Ugh, just let it out and get it over with." My face was burning. I truly was pathetic. I barely faltered when a yell of laughter ensued, and even Tessai gave a couple of chuckles. I was suddenly swallowed up by the familiar bizarreness of Urahara's shop and his make shift family, and that I didn't want to be this anymore.

As the laughter died down minutes later, I realised that two other voices had joined in. Jinta, significantly grown, and Ururu, her meek expression red and somehow still sad, even with laughter. She pitied me, and that made my resolve solid. I stood, steady and determined, and turned to the former 12th division captain. He was a genius, capable of making anything happen.

"I want you to help me become a soul reaper again."

I expected at least hesitation, but then again, I knew this man enough to not expect anything. I knew him enough to know that I would never be able to predict him. Straight away he sobered, and held out a small black object with a button. He pressed it, an arrogant smile painting itself on his face. The floor parted, and I moved with it.

"Its about time, Ichigo. We've been counting on you to return and acknowledge my genius." He began his descent down the steps formed beneath the room, and I followed. "I knew there would be two possible reasons for your inevitable visit; one, you would seek information on the creatures that have appeared, and two; you wanted your powers back. I have prepared for both."

The vast desert-like training ground felt like a second home, but that might have been the knowledge that soon I would be strong again, and useful again. I felt sick still, but with anticipation. The adrenaline pumping within me was as strong as before, and I could almost feel alive again. Finally, we were at the bottom, and the sand beneath my shoes confirmed that this wasn't a dream.

"So, how is this going to happen? Is it different now since I have no rietsu?"

"You have riestu, Ichigo."

"I did, but I've not seen any soul reapers or spirits around."

He turned, having retrieved the hand fan. From behind it his eyes questioned. "And just what do you think those creatures are? Human?"

It hadn't occurred to me before that they could be anything but, I simply assumed that they'd lost their souls as a consequence of the battle with Aizen. Now that just sounded stupid.

"Of course, it's not strong enough to be able to see soul reapers. They've been here, regulating what they can. Your spiritual pressure is just slightly higher than your average Karakura resident right now," he droned.

I wanted to question how, what they've been doing to help, why they weren't there to help Karin. But I couldn't now. I was stunned by what was happening, too relieved that I wouldn't be useless anymore. Selfish maybe, and maybe that would be a good thing.

"Now then, you must be aware that you'll have to train hard in order to become what you were before you lost your powers." I nodded stiffly. He nodded in return, but his eyes were somewhere just behind. "Ready."

My eyes widened. "What, now?!"

"No time like the present, Ichigo!"

With no time to wait, a sharp, metallic noise radiated outside and from within. Blood splattered before me, behind it a thin silver sword.

A zanpakto.

I couldn't breathe, I just stared stunned at the blade. I was in agony.

"W-who—i-is that-t?"

My movements rigid, I turned, and found a figure fading into view. Short and thin. Slowly, it developed features. Black hair, huge eyes. Black kimono.

Slate grey eyes, a sarcastic smile…

Rukia…I don't know whether I thought it or said it. I only hoped I didn't say it as I breathed it in my head. I was so happy I almost hugged that little gremlin.

"Nice to see you too, Ichigo." Her voice hadn't changed. That was when I noticed the lieutenant's badge on her arm. I nodded. "Congrats."

"Thanks, I deserved it working alongside you."

I smiled, and then saw another implication within her comment. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

She smirked, and put away her sword. "You were a very reckless and chaotic ally, Ichigo, and yet too serious and egotistical to regard as fun."

Anger, again, and a desperate need to prove her wrong. "Oh yeah? Having to save you all those times wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs for me either, Rukia," I seethed smoothly. Her grin didn't falter. "Welcome back to the world of the living."

I looked down, prepared for the matching black kimono replacing my tattered casuals.

"Welcome back indeed!" Urahara cheered, interrupting the reunion. "Rukia! Looking well, how is everyone?"

"Ask them yourself," she commented, folding her arms calmly. Beyond Urahara, a figure appeared in the familiar attire. A few more gathered, dotted around the training grounds. Mostly captain's uniforms. Finally, a tall figure appeared behind Rukia. I glanced up to the face of the captain of the 13th division.

"Captain Ukitake." I smiled fondly at the white haired man, and his ever easy demeanour didn't fail him. "Ichigo," he welcomed warmly. "You have been sorely missed by the Soul Society."

"Thanks, sir." I felt a glimmer of happiness as I looked at the man, because I knew right there and then that history was about the repeat itself, to some extent. He welcomed me as a substitute shinigami, as an asset to the soul society. He granted me with permission to be as useful as I could be. I respected him more than each of the other captains.

I wouldn't allow myself to revert back, no matter what.

"I thought it best that you work your way up through the ranks, just to judge what level you're at right now. You've always been unpredictable, ichigo." Ukitake glanced around at the surrounding captains and lieutenants, and their subordinates. It was like a trip through past experiences. Among them were the smiling and shining face of 5th seat Yumichika, a grinning Ikkaku, Renji with his zanpakto ready and resting on his shoulder, Toshiro, Byakuya, and finally Kyoraku. My eyes flitted back to Toshiro; I wondered if he knew. Karin had told me about their times together when he'd visit, and their reluctant friendship. His icy stare was unreadable as ever.

"Well, lets begin!"

I turned back to the former captain. "W-what, now? What about telling me about what those things are?"

"Distractions, distractions. Train now, learn later."