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Recap: "It's almost as if Masaki's alive somewhere."
"But that's impossible, MOM DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" Ichigo yelled. "And it's all my fault-"
"ICHIGO. Stop blaming yourself for something outside your control!" Isshin said sternly. "Besides, Masaki is at peace now."
"But- Wait, what do you mean Mom's at peace?"
"I killed Grand Fisher quite a while ago when the Arrancar War was just beginning." There was silence. "Didn't I ever tell you?" Isshin cocked his head to the side with squinty eyes and goofy obliviousness.
"NO YOU DIDN'T YOU STUPID GOAT FACE!" Karin teamed up with her brother and they both imploded their dad's (remarkably unbreakable) face with twin thrusting kicks while Yuzu gasped in the background.
"My face..." Isshin whined while his hands felt the crater in his features, which was identical to the one his son had given him when Isshin had first revealed his identity as a soul reaper to him.
"Ichigo, Karin!" Yuzu chastised her siblings while they grumbled about "the giant idiot". "Don't do that, it breaks my heart to see you guys fighting."
"I'm glad to know that at least one of my daughters cares about her dear ol' papa still! C'mere Yuzu I need a hug!" The two sobbed into each other's arms while Karin and Ichigo gazed on, unamused. Isshin's true facial features popped back into being after a while.
"But do you really think it's possible that Mom's alive?" Karin asked as the seriousness returned during the bit of silence after the commotion died down.
"Not exactly alive, but... more like existing," Isshin said, one hand stroking his beard. But then he let his hand drop slowly as a thought occurred to him. "Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, we need to get going to the Soul Society right away."
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They had finally passed out of Goro's district and were getting closer and closer to the Seireitei. As Masaki and Goro trekked through the forest with Goro leading and eating on the way, the sunlight filtered down warm and gentle, just enough to warm them and provide light but not enough so that the two were blinded. They made small talk about their favorite things (which Masaki completely remembered now), but nothing too deep or uncomfortable. Goro figured that the soul reapers would let them into the Seireitei and the world of the living no problem, considering the status that Ichigo's mom unknowingly now had because of her son's achievements.
As mentioned, Goro was a pretty simple guy who didn't really understand how complicated it might be for the soul reapers to allow that. After who knows how much longer of just walking and chatting, Goro was met by a familiar sight and he smiled.
"There is is Miss, the Seireitei! You can tell because the buildings are different."
"I told you to call me Masaki," Masaki said, but her heart wasn't really in it as she observed the area before her. "I can tell it must be huge, but I can't see it all. Let's go, Goro!" and she started marching purposefully to the home of the soul reapers.
"No Miss, wait! Stop or you'll get crushed!" Goro frantically ran towards her and pulled her shoulder back in the nick of time as a huge wall came crashing down on where she had been moments ago.
"Oh my... you really saved me there."
"No problem Miss. No problem."
"How did you stop me in time though? I could've sworn you were farther back than that."
"Oh I just fla- sprinted very quickly! Yes, I'm quite fast."
"Oh? YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT ME WITH THAT AND GET BY THIS GATE? Well think again!" Goro and Masaki felt a mini earthquake under their feet as a giant crashed onto the ground beside them, sending up huge dust clouds and debris. "You must have very bad manners, coming uninvited and without a pass, and bragging about how you can beat me with your speed!" the giant said while pulling out a humongous ax. Masaki gasped "NOW WHO GOES THERE- wait... is that... GORO!?"
"Yeah Jidanbo, it's me, do you remember?"
"HAHAHAHAHA! OF COURSE I DO! How could I forget an old friend like you? I never forget my friends no matter how long we don't see each other! Not you, not Ichi-"
"AHEM. Miss, this here's Jidanbo, the gatekeeper of the Gate of Pure Spirits. He's big on manners, but a kind fellow once you get to know him."
"Goro you are so generous with your compliments! A kind man, just like-"
"AHEM. Thank you very much Jidanbo, but you know how many times I've told you not to get so emotional, it'll make you look weak."
"HE beat me as a warrior and as a man, Ichi-"
"SOOOOO Jidanbou, I need to tell you something real quick," Goro said as he motioned for the giant to come down to his level. They started whispering about something, and Masaki was very confused. Why had Goro kept interrupting the gatekeeper with the giant deadly weapon? Is that how their friendship worked? Jidanbo standing up at his full height broke her thoughts and he smiled knowingly at Goro, who looked relieved. He had given Jidanbo a warning about watching his mouth when it came to that name.
"Well Miss, I'm sorry about that but I just needed to discuss something with my friend here real quick. Heh."
"OH YES!" Jidanbou said proudly. "I will NOT mention anything about how Ichigo easily defeated me or how he broke into the Seireitei to save Miss Kuchiki, or ANYTHING about how it was only with a few friends against 13 deadly captains. NOR will I speak ANYTHING about how the fight with Captain Zaraki almost KILLED him OR about how-"
"JIDANBOU!" Goro yelled in a powerful and strange voice that seemed to boom and echo through the very being of everyone present and make the trees and houses tremble.
"I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?" the giant asked in a timid voice while seeming to shrink down at the heavy silver aura that Goro was emitting.
"Yes, you did," Goro said, calming down. Keep it in check, keep it in check...
"Goro?"
The said man froze. Then he turned around slowly to face Masaki, whose expression was somewhere between confusion, disappointment, and regret.
"No, never mind." In that moment she turned her back to Goro. "Jidanbou? Can you tell me what exactly happened while my son was in the Seireitei?"
"YOU ARE ICHIGO KUROSAKI'S MOTHER!?"
"Yes. I want to know why that is such a big surprise to everyone and what exactly happened while I was away."
"Umm... I'm not a very good explainer Mrs. Kurosaki, but I have book that you can read that will tell you all you need to know!" Jidanbou smiled and looked hesitantly at Goro, but he just smacked his forehead and then let his hand slide down his face.
"Thank you very much, gatekeeper," Masaki smiled at Jidanbou, who blushed and rubbed his head before opening the gate for the two... were they companions anymore? They passed through in silence and Masaki opened the book that the giant had given her. In truth, she wasn't that mad, just troubled that her first friend in this strange world had lied to her about her own son. She didn't know how exactly to react, because it had been so long since she had ever been the least bit troubled about anything outside of being a mother to her wonderful children. As she looked at the Table of Contents, she noted that what Goro had told her wasn't a complete lie, he had informed her on all the events but had failed to include the danger factor, and had watered everything down. Speaking of which...
"Goro?" she asked again, one word carrying a mountain of questions, but no longer any bad feelings. Then suddenly the man stopped and hit the ground hard with his hands and knees.
"I'm so sorry Miss! I shouldn't have lied, it was a terrible thing to do and I'm so sorry, but it wouldn't do for a newly arrived soul to worry about their past life before getting back to it and I'm so ashamed that I-"
"Goro it's fine, please stand up, one friend shouldn't bow to the other," she said hurriedly. Why should he be on the ground!? Goro stood up and looked at her wonderingly. Who knew anyone could be so quick to forgive?
"I'm sorry Miss," he said again.
"I forgive you Goro. I know your intentions were good. Now let's just be friends again, okay?" she smiled.
"Okay Miss," he said. Masaki was a kind woman and mother. The two souls walked on and chatted like nothing happened for a couple minutes before they literally ran into their first captain.
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