Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. All rights belong to the creator Tite Kubo.
This is an AU story with some OOC.
And with nothing else please read, enjoy and review.
Chapter 13: Home
-X-
"How have you been, Ichigo?"
Everyone's eyes focused on the redhead Arrancar, trying to see what his reaction would be. It has been over 4 years since Ichigo had seen his own father. Everyone was expecting for the teen to go run over to his dad and hug him, but Ichigo was just glued to his spot, lacking expression on his face but not in his eyes.
There was an emotional battle going through Ichigo's amber eyes. He just doesn't understand what action to take right now. He should have felt overjoyed with being able to see his dad again and even have his old man recognize him after what had happened to him. So why, why is he feeling so conflicted?
After thinking about it for a full minute, Ichigo finally said something, "How, how was it that you could see a Shinigami..." Now that he thought about it. His father got to URAHARA'S SHOP fast... too fast.
It wasn't a short trip for someone to reach URAHARA'S SHOP from all the way to the shopping districts in mere minutes. He and Lily took at least half an hour to reach the shopping district when they used the normal method, which is walking but once they had to return to the shop after the incident with the Shinigami Captain, they used Sonido to get back to Urahara's in mere minutes. Ichigo was positive that it was only a couple of minutes since he reached the shop and not even a full minute went by before his father walked through the store's door. How could his father reach the shop in just a minute?
Making sure not to stutter, Ichigo narrows his eyes towards his father. "How did you get here so fast?"
The mood around the room has taken a turn. The air seems to drop to freezing temperatures.
Isshin wasn't expecting Ichigo to be asking such questions from the start and, from what he could see, the unemotional attitude towards him. The Kurosaki patriarch should feel hurt with the way his own son was staring at him, but he saw this coming. It was now his turn to decide which action he should take. Should he feel hurt with the cold eyes his own son was sending him? Or should he man up and get ready to receive his punishment for hiding so much from his own children?
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, the ex-captain took a quick breath before letting it out and locking his eyes with his son's amber color eyes. "What do you think?" Isshin didn't even look away as he was able to spot a bit of hurt in Ichigo's eyes.
This wasn't the scene that everyone was expecting. The Kurosaki twins were hoping for a happy family reunion, Hell, even Lily was expecting something magical to happen, but now it looks like everyone was about a minute away to see an argument break out between father and son.
Urahara looks at Szayel and sends his apprentice a nod which he returns. Right after Starrk had left the lab this morning, both scientists have been discussing the possible mental acceleration the Hōgyoku may have done to both teens. So far, Szayel's little theory has been right. If Ichigo still had his child-like mind, then the very first thing he would have done after seeing his dad again would have been a more childish respond, which would be the redhead hugging Isshin and maybe even weep a bit. However, with the action he took first, it was safe to assume that Ichigo is thinking things through then taking any forms of action first—another true statement with the way Ichigo looks like he was seconds away from punching Isshin, but something was holding him back, perhaps the voice of conscience.
Yuzu's little head was snapping between both Kurosaki men. Why was Ichigo looking at their father that way? The glare on his face was even making her feel scared of her own brother. Tugging his pants and gaining his attention, Yuzu looks up at Ichigo with tears in her eyes. "Nii-chan."
Seeing the frightened look on his own sister's face, Ichigo regains his composure before patting Yuzu's head and giving her a smile. "It's okay, don't get scared." Watching as his sister calmed down a bit, he turned back to his father who still held the same look. "I... I don't want to believe you're actually a Shinigami. So please. Just tell me that you're not. Even lie to me if you have to."
Isshin didn't know how he should react to what he had just heard. Ichigo would rather hear a lie than the truth? Has his son not accepted the fact that maybe he was part Shinigami? Or could it be that Ichigo hates the Shinigami so much that he rather not believe he was the son of one?
He was about to jump out of his Gigai when he remembered all the Shinigami posted around Karakura Town. If just one of them picked up his Reiatsu then he would attract them here. "Let's go down to Urahara's training ground first." Seeing as no one made a move to head towards the basement, Isshin sighed before taking the lead.
Ulquiorra makes a quick swing to his left with his Zanpakutō and watches as Shinji steps back to dodge his standard-sized Katana with a green handle and sheath; the guard has two curved extensions from its long sides with a line going through both sides, giving it an eye-like appearance.
Shinji brought his blade up as he was readying himself to block Ulquiorra's upcoming attack. Seeing how the pale Arrancar let his blade hang loosely by his right side, Shinji took it as an opening and donned his Hollow mask which strongly resembles a pharaoh's mask, with a short, flowing hood hanging down the back of his neck. Eyes change as well to a more Hollow-like appearance, just that instead of his irises becoming yellow, they take a gray coloration instead.
Seeing the way Ulquiorra disappears from his spot by using a quick Sonido, the bob-cut blonde follows the Hollow's lead and uses a quick Shunpo to meet Ulquiorra's blade with his own. "Come on now Ulquiorra-san, ya gotta be a little faster than that." Bluff Shinji, Ulquiorra was actually just a little faster than him, but just a little though.
Watching as Ulquiorra brought his hand up and was forming a green Cero, Shinji leapt back before copying the Hollow's action. With a red Cero forming at his hand, the blonde Visored fires his Cero and watches as it collides with Ulquiorra's. Leaving the area filled with smoke.
'4 minutes left.' Shinji needs to bring this spar to an end already; they have been going at it for at least 10 minutes now. With his vision block by the smoke his best course of actions are to either blow the smoke away, which would reveal him to the green-eyed Arrancar, or wait for the Hollow to make a move, but the only problem with that option is the fact that Ulquiorra haven't taken advantage of his block vision.
Forgetting about his eyesight, the ex-Captain started focusing on finding Ulquiorra's Reiatsu. After a couple of seconds and not able to find him, Shinji released an annoyed groan. Ulquiorra's control over his Reiatsu was just too good. Some lessons with Yoruichi on how to hide his Reiatsu and the Arrancar became already expert at it.
Hearing a Sonido behind him, Shinji turns around and once again locks his blade with Ulquiorra, the clash of their swords clearing away the smoke.
"You really had to go for the sneak attack, eh?" Shinji pointed his right index and middle fingers at Ulquiorra. "Sai!" Watching the way Ulquiorra's arms locked behind his back, the Visored swung his blade down at the immobilized Arrancar before Ulquiorra disappeared completely from his view.
Blinking a few times from what he just saw, Shinji turns around and watches as Ulquiorra comes back to view a few feet back and with his arms now free.
The Visored was left more or less dumbstrucked with Ulquiorra's quick thinking and calm demeanor in a tough situation. Ulquiorra easily figured out that while his arms were no longer of use because of the Kidō spell, his legs were still mobile. Most Shinigami caught with Sai would easily forget how they could still use their legs and all because they'll focus on freeing their arms first.
'3 minutes.' Taking a fighting stance, Shinji prepares for Ulquiorra's upcoming assault but the Arrancar moves back and keeps some distance between the two. Narrowing his eyes towards Ulquiorra's actions, Shinji closed the gap between the two with a quick Shunpo. Making sure not to give Ulquiorra any time to think, Shinji switched his strategy and started striking at the Arrancar with reckless attacks.
Out of the five Arrancar that the Visoreds have trained, they all agreed that the most recent addition to the group is by far the most dangerous. Ulquiorra was a perfect mixture of Szayel and Starrk. The green-eyed Hollow was a fast learner, a quick thinker, powerful and fast, sure he wasn't stronger and faster than Starrk, but the alexithymia man was just a few steps behind the brunette.
Shinji's assaults have forced Ulquiorra to switch into a defensive stance.
Seeing the way the pale-skin Hollow was easily blocking his attacks, he let out a small curse and took a leap back before concentrating on making another Cero. '2 minutes.' The blonde Visored frowned upon seeing how Ulquiorra didn't respond to his attack with one of his own. 'Now what the hell are you plannin'...' Firing his Cero, the ex-Captain watched as Ulquiorra used a Sonido to dodge his move, no surprise there.
Taking a quick glance at his back to make sure that he was ready for another of Ulquiorra's sneak attacks, Ulquiorra reappeared right in front of him instead. Turning around while swinging his blade horizontally, he watched as Ulquiorra easily was able to block his attack with no effort. Looking at Ulquiorra for some kind of reaction was stupid on Shinji's part. The green-eyed Arrancar has one hell of a poker face.
Going for another leap back and re-thinking his strategy, the sound of his Hollow mask breaking stops him at his tracks. 'What the hell! I was sure I had a minute left!'
"Time's up." Ulquiorra said while pointing his left index finger at Shinji. "Bala."
A fast, small, and green Bala hit Shinji on the chest and sent the ex-Captain back. Damage nonlethal; this is just a simple spar.
Standing back up after taking a blow for getting distracted, Shinji brought his sword to his neck, stopping Ulquiorra's blade. "Oi! It's supposed to be just a spar!" Parrying away Ulquiorra's attacks, Shinji found out that with each strike he blocked, the Hollow was pushing him back. 'Where the hell is this strength coming from?'
Blocking the upcoming attack, Shinji uses a Shunpo to put some space between Ulquiorra and himself. Reappearing again and thinking of a new plan, the Visored leader was once again left shocked as Ulquiorra reappeared right in front of him with a speed far faster than he was using at the beginning of their spar. Seeing how the Arrancar's blade was aiming back at his neck again, Shinji's reaction speed was the only thing that saved him from getting cut. Trying to push back the Hollow, he dreadfully noticed how he wasn't capable of overpowering his opponent. Once again distracted, Shinji didn't notice how Ulquiorra flicked his wrist and pushed his blade away.
Seeing as how Ulquiorra was going for another Bala again, Shinji brought his blade back to his front and was ready to block the attack when he noticed that Ulquiorra wasn't forming a Bala but a Cero instead.
'Crap!'
Too close to Ulquiorra, Shinji wasn't able to dodge the Cero from point-blank range.
After the attack finished, Shinji was lying down on the ground with his arms outstretched and legs apart. As he tries to get up again, the blonde Visored stops upon feeling the tip of Ulquiorra's blade at his throat. Looking up to Ulquiorra's green eyes, Shinji releases a sigh before lying right back. "Fine, fine. Ya win."
"Yay~!" Mashiro said by the sideline, watching the spar with Muguruma Kensei. The ex-Captain to the 9th Division is a tall, muscular man with sharp features, short light-gray/silver hair, and brown eyes. He's wearing a dark purple A-shirt with white trim, green cargo pants, black combat boots, and a pair of orange fingerless gloves. He also has a series of piercings, with one on his left eyebrow and three on his left ear.
Watching how the airhead Visored was skipping towards him, Shinji raised his hand and waited for Mashiro to pull him up only to watch her skip past him.
"Su~! That was super cool when you hit Shinji-san with your Bala! You were all like, "Bala" and then there was the 'PEW' and 'Boom'!" Mashiro mimicked all of Ulquiorra's bland looks when he fired his Bala and was 'shooting' with her left index finger a 'Bala'. "You were acting like a cool-"
"Superhero?" Ulquiorra interrupted, already understanding the way Mashiro's mind worked.
"Yeah!"
Seeing how Shinji still had his hand raised, Kensei rolled his eyes before looking down at the blonde. "Just get up already."
Releasing a huff, Shinji stood up while dusting away the dirt on him. "Jerk."
Kensei ignored Shinji's little comment. "It's crazy how strong they're all getting."
Sensing how things seem to take a more serious turn, Shinji nods back before recalling all the Arrancars' training. "Starrk was a bit annoying to work with, but with all the trainin' he had done he's good enough to hold his own in a fight now."
At the beginning of Starrk's training, the brunette lack of 'instinct' made it hard for the Visoreds to teach him how to fight, they had to teach him everything they knew from the ground up. Only twice did he allow his instincts to take over, but those were mostly rare moments. Some small problems with Starrk was with how easily his body kept leaking out Reiatsu, he couldn't control how much Reiatsu he should put behind an attack, and didn't know how to hide it either but they fixed it after some time, the real challenge was Starrk's lack of taking a fight seriously.
The brunette never uses his full strength, and he always has a bored expression on his face when he spars with any of the Visoreds. The only time he ever seems to take anything seriously is when he trains with Yoruichi.
Why?
Was it because Yoruichi was actually a challenge for him? Starrk was fast. Among the Visoreds, they all knew that little fact about Starrk, but Yoruichi was even faster, and that seems to motivate the man to catch up to the werecat.
So because Yoruichi was faster than him, he took his training with her more seriously.
So why not the sparring sections that he has to take with the Visoreds? Was it because there was no one around his power that he needed to go all out on? Even after they upped his training by adding Hollow masks into the mix of spars, the Arrancar still never used his full strength. The Visoreds had already berated him about that little bad habit of his before but still, the brunette has denied using his full strength.
"He was a hard obstacle to get around, but we cleaned some parts up." Kensei replies.
"We could still clean those parts better. Kami, even Szayel was easier to train and fix up!" Shinji said as he recalled thinking about Szayel's training—if what he remembers from Szayel's experience could be called training.
Szayel wasn't strong—nevermind, scratch that last part—Szayel was strong enough to deal with Lieutenant-class Shinigami, but Captain-class was a different thing. Szayle also didn't know how to use a sword properly... so a lot of his training was to help polish the scientist's sword skills. After that the next thing that they needed to fix from Szayel was the habit of him treating his battles like some theatrical performances act, he starts 'acting' when he spars with the Visoreds.
Hiyori was the one who dealt with that little problem, which mostly led with beating down Szayel to where that habit was all but gone. Feeling sorry for the Arrancar for having dealt with Hiyori's wrath, Shinji told the pinknette that he could always make a battle feel like a 'theater' IF he could make the battle go his way and that was all that Shinji told Szayel. Even when the pink-haired Arrancar asked Shinji to elaborate what he meant, he always replies with, "You're a smart one, figure it out yourself."
And that statement was true. Szayel has been under Urahara's wing for 8 months now. The Arrancar was creating and improving gadgets every day. At least the one thing that he was better at than Starrk was control over his Reiatsu.
Forgetting about Szayel, Shinji thought about the training both Ichigo and Lily had been taking. Since both kids didn't have a sword, the only thing that the Visoreds would teach them was the way to better control how much power they should use on a Cero but that was all they taught both of them, however, he gave Ichigo more training with the... interesting ability he could do.
The first time Shinji saw them outside their Gigai was a unique moment for him. He wasn't expecting for them to appear so... human. Forgetting about their appearance, Shinji started searching for the sign that showed they were still Hollows and he could easily spot them. Mask fragments and hollow holes. Well, that's what he found on Starrk and Lily, but Ichigo didn't have any kind of mask on him. Recalling what Urahara said that the boy could do, he asks Ichigo to don his mask and then he sees it. Two thick vertical blue stripes decorated the black mask. After seeing the mask, Shinji started thinking about what kind of training Ichigo should even take.
During the first week, Shinji had told Ichigo to wear his mask to see just how long the redhead could keep it on—it could have been possible for Ichigo to have a time limit to keep his mask on.
That wasn't the case.
Ichigo's mask didn't seem to run on a time limit at all. The redhead was able to keep the mask on ALL day long. He didn't even feel exhausted about using the mask either. So instead of wasting his time with Ichigo, Shinji handed over the boy to Mashiro, since she's the one among the Visoreds who can keep her mask running for 72 hours straight. So during her first week of training Ichigo, Mashiro had challenged the redhead to see who among the two could keep their mask on the longest, the challenge wasn't as simple as that. The lime-haired Visored has also added Cero and Sonido/Shunpo training into the mix so that way Ichigo would have to focus on his control over his moves and to not lose focus on his mask.
It was a clever move by Mashiro IF it worked. The Visoreds found out that Ichigo could easily keep the mask on for five days before he removed it, which all he does is take off the mask and it breaks away. The mask just so gives Ichigo top-notch control over his Reiatsu, even giving him a speed and power boost, the same benefits as when the Visoreds donned their mask. The only difference is that Ichigo could keep his mask on for far longer. Why? Who knows, maybe it's a Hollow thing?
'And that was when he was a child...' Shinji thought with a dire tone. If what Mashiro told them was true, Lily and Ichigo were no longer kids now, their transformation by the Hōgyoku has turned them into teens and both were proper Arrancar now.
Releasing a sigh, Shinji went back to watching the way Mashiro and Ulquiorra interact with one another. It was strange. Everyone acted like friends with one another, there weren't any ill intentions among both groups...
"Can you believe how normal this all feels?" Kensei spoke his thoughts.
Looking at the silver-haired man, Shinji raises an eyebrow before replying. "You're not talkin' about the way we all seem to be actin' like some goody-good champs with each other, right?"
Turning to Shinji and giving him a deadpan look, Kensei said, "What do you think?"
Before replying, Shinji goes back to looking at the way Ulquiorra still seems to be listening to Mashiro talk about her favorite Superhero from a Manga she was reading. Most Visoreds would have shut her voice out of their minds, but Ulquiorra seems to be genuinely listening to every word she says.
"Call me crazy, but do ya think it could be possible for Shinigami and Arrancar to coexist?"
Before Kensei could reply to Shinji's random comment, both Visoreds sense a Shinigami's Reiatsu, someone that neither of the Visoreds had sensed before.
"I'll tell you my answer some other time." Kensei said before he headed towards the unknown Reiatsu, Shinji following right behind him.
When everyone moved down to Urahara's basement, Isshin took a moment to look around as he seemed to attract many people's attention. He spotted some Visoreds, two more Arrancar, and Yoruichi. The only person missing seems to be Tessai, but he was sure the tan-skinned man was watching over the shop.
Taking a deep breath, Isshin turns around and makes deep eye contact with Ichigo. "I know you'd rather want me to tell you... but, I think it would be better if you see it instead."
Ichigo watches as his father leaves his Gigai and reveals his Shinigami form.
Isshin was wearing a standard Shinigami Shihakushō, along with a tattered Captain's haori, worn like a sash and fastened over his left shoulder with his Division insignia obscured.
Before the Kurosaki's twins saw their father's Gigai drop to the floor, both were amazed by how huge Urahara's basement was. When they both finally touch the ground, Yuzu was able to sense something among them, as if they were not alone and as a couple of minutes passed by she started seeing shimmering figures around them.
While her sister saw shimmering figures, Karin was able to see all the... people around her but her eyes glued onto Ulquiorra and Szayel. Warning bells started ringing inside her head about these two; something was telling her that they were dangerous.
Both twin's attention went back to their father when they saw him drop to the floor.
Running towards Isshin first, Yuzu was about to freak out when she stopped upon seeing another shimmering figure above her father's body. Hearing a gasp, she turns around to see the surprised look on both Ichigo's and Karin's faces. Now that she thought about it, they both seem to look at something behind her, but as she turns around to see what it could be, all she saw was the shimmering figure.
Stunned from the revelation, all Ichigo could do was stare at his father's Shinigami form in shock. So there it was, the proof he wishes was never real. His father was a Shinigami.
Before his son could speak a word, if he could, Isshin crossed his arms around his chest and said, "Get out."
That brought Ichigo out from his shock moment and gave his father an odd look. "What?"
"I want to look at my son. So get out of that Gigai."
Ichigo hesitated at his father's request. Did he really want to show his own dad the thing he has become? Would he scare his own sisters? By the look on Karin's face, the black-haired twin seems to be able to see everyone, even Ulquiorra and Szayel, who are outside their Gigai. He didn't want his sisters to see the monster he had become.
"Ichigo." Gaining his son's attention, Isshin sends Ichigo a fatherly-smile. "No matter what you look like, you will always be the son that I still love."
At those words, Ichigo looked down at the ground in shame. His father knew what he was and still he loves him; the son who turned into a monster, even after dying his father still loved him and here he was, detesting his dad all because he was a Shinigami. 'No, that can't be right. I don't hate him for being a Shinigami. I hate the fact that he would hide something this important from us.' Now that Ichigo thought about it, there was a foreign feeling mixing with his emotions, and he knew what it was. 'Oi! Zangetsu, are you there?! Can you hear me?'
With no reply coming from the man inside his mindscape, Ichigo was about to jump outside his faux body when he remembered a little detail. Blushing, a bit from embarrassment, the redhead said, "I'm sort of not wearing anything outside the Gigai."
Isshin raises one of his eyebrows. "You didn't ask Urahara for any clothes?"
Hearing that little comment from the ex-captain, Starrk looks at Ichigo and also raises one of his eyebrows. "Yeah, why didn't you just ask Urahara for clothes?"
"Yeah, why didn't you just tell me?" Urahara said with a goofy smile on his face before magically pulling a bag behind him. "Why, I was holding both yours and Lily-chan's new clothes all day!"
Ichigo didn't know to either be thankful to Urahara for saving his hide from Starrk or feel irritated that the shopkeeper would have clothes for his and Lily's transformation.
With a small thank you, Ichigo grabbed the bag from Urahara's hand before leaving with a Sonido to change.
Once gone, it left the area in tense and awkward silence.
"Well, there goes that moment." Szayel commented before turning towards Ulquiorra and starting a conversation with him, which then dragged the attention of Lily and Starrk. As time went by, most of the people started talking amongst their group.
Yuzu's little head started snapping from Lily to Starrk to Urahara. To her, they seem to talk with the shimmering figures. As she turns to look at the body of her father, Yuzu turns around to look at Karin and send her twin sister a worried look. "Shouldn't we tell them that Tou-chan seems to have passed out?"
"Don't worry about him. Something tells me that he's fine." Karin replied, not looking at her sister because she was busy watching as her dad was having a conversation with the shopkeeper and a dark-skin woman and by the look on their faces, they're talking about something serious.
"And that was all Shunsui said before he left." Finishing recalling his conversation and odd request from Shunsui, Isshin patiently waited for Urahara's and Yoruichi's opinion. He already knows what they should do, and that's making sure Shunsui wouldn't receive his request. Not that Isshin doesn't like him; it's just unclear to him on why Shunsui asked such an odd request. Does he really wish to meet Ichigo or could it all be a trap? After patiently waiting, Isshin finally heard Urahara's opinion.
"Kind of hard to see what Shunsui's motives are. Him not alerting the rest of the Captain would make it seem like he truly wishes to meet the Arrancar."
"Or it could be a trap. Think about it like this. Shunsui saw the kids only, and I'm sure that Byakuya wrote in his report with deep details about the numbers of enemies they encountered." A worried frown spread across Yoruichi's face. "Maybe this 'peaceful meeting' may just be a trap to have all of them gather in one place."
Both exiles turn to Isshin and wait for his opinion on which action they should take.
"Soul Society has always seen Hollows as dangerous creatures and now that they know that such powerful Hollows exist, they won't just let them be. They'll do anything to kill them." Isshin said.
Urahara just sends Isshin a nod, not really liking the decision that he made. Somehow he felt like they missed an opportunity to gain some allies inside Gotei 13. Wishing to persuade Isshin to recall his choice, Urahara notices that Isshin's attention seems to be somewhere else. Following his eyes, the shopkeeper saw what he was looking at. Lily seems to have brought the girls to meet the rest of the Arrancar. The shaggy blonde could see the way Yuzu was squinting her eyes to see Ulquiorra and Szayel's figures better while Karin was stiff like a board.
Looking back to Isshin's eyes, Urahara notices the lack of panic in them. "Are you not worried?"
"About what?" Reply Isshin while turning back to Urahara.
Urahara just shrugs. "Well, you know, how Yuzu and Karin are dangerously close to a bunch of Hollows?"
Isshin's sights returned to his daughters, watching the way Yuzu's outstretch little hand is waiting for Ulquiorra to shake it. Watching as the green-eyed Hollow gently shakes her hand, the ex-captain responds to Urahara. "To me, they're not Hollows." Isshin watches as Szayel introduces himself with a bow. "Just a bunch of socially awkward people."
Everyone's attention went back to Ichigo when he reappeared, this time outside his Gigia and with a new outfit.
Ichigo was wearing what appears to be a white Shinigami attire that comprises a thick black strap across his chest, the robe spread enough for anyone to see his Hollow hole in his chest. He has four white vertical lines on his forearms and black, tattoo-like bands crossing over his chest, wrists, and ankles. Similar bands, but with white ends, lie around his neck as collars.
The redhead patiently waited for his dad to say something, waiting for him to mention his Hollow eyes, black mask fragment, hole, and white skin.
Isshin was looking at his son from top to bottom. "Why are you so pale? You don't spend a lot of time outside or something?"
Ichigo just gave his dad a stupify look before replying with a raised voice. "That's the first thing you want to mention about me?! LOOK AT ME CLOSER! Look at my eyes, the mask, the hole in my chest! I'm nothing but a—"
"Monster?" Isshin interrupted, and as he watched Ichigo look down at the ground, he released a sigh. "Why should a hole in your chest make you a monster? Do you even know what a real monster is for you to say that? Have you been acting like a monster? Because from what I have seen and told, you're still the same Ichigo that I knew."
Ichigo took the time to take a peek at his sister's expressions. Yuzu was just squinting towards his direction, probably still not able to see him while Karin was looking down at the ground. "You don't see me as a monster, but I'm sure they do."
Karin flinches a bit from Ichigo's words. To her, seeing her brother with so many strange features was just... not what she wanted to see. She just wanted to have her brother back, her once alive and normal brother. "You're not a monster." The black-haired twin looked into Ichigo's black and yellow eyes. "You just look different."
While she couldn't see him and his voice sounded a bit disoriented, Yuzu was still perfectly able to hear her brother's words. "You're still Nii-chan."
"You see? Even they know who you are." Isshin said, bringing Ichigo's attention back to him. He took a deep breath and decided that it's time for secrets to come out. "What do you want to know, Ichigo?"
"Why didn't you tell us this? How could you hide something this important from us and from Mom too?"
Looking up to the fake sky, Isshin thought about how he should answer those questions. "The reason I said nothing to you was that I hoped that you would be born as a normal child and maybe I wouldn't have to explain all this to you."
"But why would you hide what you are from us?" Ichigo asks.
"It's not like I had anything to hide. When I married your mother, I was nothing but a human. I wasn't a Shinigami." Isshin answered.
"And Mom?"
Isshin shrugs. "It's not like she didn't know." A smile spread across his face. "Have I ever told you the story of how I met your mother?" Going back inside his Gigai and standing back up, Isshin put his hands on his hips. "Looks like it's time for a little story!"
-A few hours later, Soul Society-
Captain-Commander Yamamoto was not happy with the little souvenir that Captain Kurotsuchi have brought back from the Human World and as said Captain stood before him at his office with no signs of worry with the human child that he return with, the ancient Shinigami was at the borderline of turning him into ashes.
"I will only repeat myself once, Captain Kurotsuchi, why was it that when you returned from your tour around Karakura Town, you had the body of a LIVE human child with you."
Mayuri replies while showing more of his teeth. "This isn't just some human child, but a Quincy!" Finishing his sentence, The 12th Captain lost the smile on his face when the temperature in the room felt as if he had walked himself into the scorching sun.
"And why would that fact make it better?" Yamamoto slightly opens his eyes and flares his Reiatsu; the room's temperature rises again.
Rather feeling alive and not dead, Captain Kurotsuchi explains his reason. "I need a live Quincy because Zangetsu appeared to be far more Quincy than I had imagined."
"And you don't have enough information about Quincies?" Ask back the Captain-Commander.
Understanding what Yamamoto was talking about, a displeased look spread across Mayuri's face. "I would rather be able to see such abilities myself than read some other fool's notes. That way I can search for a way to stop one of Zangetsu's abilities."
"And what ability would that be? I thought you discovered all of Zangetsu's powers already or was there something even you missed, Captain Kurotsuchi."
Mayuri spoke through clench teeth. "Throughout the reports of all three Captains, there had seemed to be a moment during their first encounter with the demonic-Zangetsu that apparently all three Captains' Limiters got removed and their powers were at 100%, however in Captain Hitsugaya's and Kuchiki's report, they never felt the change in their power. As I look back at the data of that day I learn something that's quite... shocking, even for me." Clenching teeth now gone and a serious look forming on his face, Captain Kurotsuchi pointed towards the body of Uryū with his right arm. "Just like a Quincy, Zangetsu can absorb Reishi. However, the major difference between our monster, Zangetsu and a Quincy is the fact that Zangetsu can absorb anything that is Reishi."
A frown forms on Yamamoto's face; Mayuri couldn't possibly mean. "You truly don't mean to say that Zangetsu could absorb a Shinigami's Reiatsu."
"As I kept studying Zangetsu's Blut Feuer, I found out that the blue-flames markings that Zangetsu wore actually carry a small trace of the three Captains' Reiatsu." Mayuri was trying hard to not smile in front of the Captain-Commander while speaking of his findings. Zangetsu was such a unique Hollow. He had already worked on a Quincy before; however, the Quincy had seemed to not be able to use his abilities. Was it because he was dead now? And if that was the case, then studying a live Quincy should make it easier for him to capture Zangetsu.
While smiling inside his head, Captain Kurotsuchi pointed back at the boy with a serious look on his face. "If you wish to have Zangetsu dead, then allow me to... work with this Quincy so that I can find a way around this dangerous ability. The sooner you choose the better, Zangetsu's probably killing and absorbing Hollows back in Hueco Mundo, making him far more powerful than the last time."
Yamamoto had no choice now. He wishes to not send the boy into Mayuri's hand; he has heard of the gruesome experiments that the 12th Captain does to his own subordinates. But the future of the world's balance is at stake.
"Very well then."
Before dismissing the Captain, the ancient Shinigami pointed out Mayuri's wound. "I believe this child is the reason for your left arm to be missing?"
Looking at the remains of his left arm, which was basically a stump now, Captain Kurotsuchi said, "The child was not the one that gave me this wound, but another Quincy that showed up to save the child after I had captured him."
Mayuri was happy that the white-haired Quincy seems to have been a bit out of practice or distracted because he misses his only chance to kill him and save the boy.
As the Captain-commander dismissed the paint-wearing Captain, a long and tired sigh left his body. Zangetsu's ability to absorb other beings' Reishi sounded too closely familiar to another Hollow's power.
"How is Zangetsu related to you, Arturo Plateado?"
- Urahara's basement-
A few hours have passed since Isshin's story had ended and as everyone took their leave, Ichigo stayed down at the basement, trying to 'activate' his sword, but Ichigo was too distracted to concentrate, he couldn't stop recalling everything about what his father had said. His mother was a Quincy. His sisters could be Quincy too, or Shinigami.
"Damn it!"
Throwing the grips to the ground, Ichigo fell to the ground on his back.
Why was it that he just became the unlucky one and became a Hollow instead? 'I could have had a normal life if I didn't die... I could have become a Shinigami or even a Quincy!'
"You know, it's late Ichigo."
Hearing Lily's voice, Ichigo turned his head to his left and saw her sitting on a boulder with her legs close to her chest and chin resting on top of them. Lily was wearing a white keyhole top with lime green ends, a white skirt with an overskirt around it, ends also a lime green color, white arm warmers, white knee socks and a pair of lightweight black shoes.
The redhead lifts one of his eyebrows; he knows it's late. It's around 2 am. "How come you're not asleep then?"
Lily shrugs. "It has been a long day for me."
"Really? A long day for you?" Ichigo replied with a deadpan look. With a sigh, he went back to looking at the fake clouds that were on top of the basement. "Why is it always daylight down here? Why can't Urahara make it nightfall down here with the image of the moon and stars above our heads?"
"He probably could, but he's too lazy to try it." Lily's words caused both of them to share a laugh before the area went into a comfortable silence. "Are you happy?"
Hearing the odd question, Ichigo's yellow eyes went back to Lily's figure. "Happy about what?"
She answered with a sad smile. "Aren't you happy about the fact that you're finally back with your family again?"
The redhead looks back to the clouds for an answer. He should feel happy, but…
Standing up and taking a seat next to Lily, Ichigo said, "I don't know, I mean. I am. I really am happy about it but, I told myself that they were my past now and my new family is you guys now. But now it's all complicated for me to decide on which one feels more like A family now."
Finally, understanding Ichigo's problem, Lily tried and made his choice a little easier. "Then stay with them."
"W-what?" Ichigo said with a shocked look on his face.
As Ichigo turned around to see her face, she did the same. "You can ask for geta-bōshi to make you a Gigai that can change your looks, you can go back living with your real family and Starrk and I could go back to Hueco Mundo, Szayel could stay here at the shop and Ulquiorra could go with you too. You can go back to having a normal life again." As she finishes, Lily was trying hard to hold back a few tears that were trying to break free. She didn't want to leave Ichigo's side, but if letting him return to his family makes him happy, then she'll happily do it.
"What… no… NO! I'm not going to just throw you guys away just because my family could see me again!" Ichigo gave Lily a sincere look. "I really meant what I said about you guys being my family. You're all my family."
Finally, letting some tears through her eye, Lily answers Ichigo's problem with a child-like answer. "Then instead of breaking apart, we should all turn into one big happy family! Ulquiorra pretty much thinks he's your older brother so he could also be Yuzu's and Karin's brother, too! Szayel too, he could also be their older brother! And Starrk could be the lazy uncle. Every family has a lazy uncle!"
"And what about you?" Ichigo asks, not even trying to break Lily's little fantasy, not with the pure happy look on her face.
Lily didn't take a second to think about what she was about to say. "I'll be your girlfriend!" As she finished and finally realized what she said, a blush spread across her cheeks. "I meant sister! I would be their older sister!"
Ichigo was happy that his Hollow mask was hiding his cheeks because he was blushing madly under it. But that didn't stop him from thinking about what she said. Does he see Lily like that? Does she see him like that? Can they even feel an attraction to one another?
"While I would be happy to hear about finally having, not just a 3rd daughter, but even more sons. Do you think you can give us a moment of privacy, Lily-chan?"
As both teens turn to see Isshin above a boulder, both Arrancar jump to put some space between them and look away from one another. Urahara had asked the Kurosaki family if they wished to stay for the night and he already knew the answer to that obvious question.
Losing some red coloring on her cheeks, Lily took her leave but not before telling Ichigo a quick goodnight.
Watching as the limenette left, Isshin went back to looking at his son's blushing face, which seems to have spread above his Hollow mask. "You know. You should have said yes to her first answer." Letting out a laugh as Ichigo's face created a new red color, Isshin settled down a bit before asking Ichigo a question. "There's been something you've been wanting to ask me. What is it?"
Isshin has seen it in Ichigo's eyes, a small hope, but for what?
"I… I have just been thinking about something. When I woke up after dying... mom wasn't around me. Where did she go? Where do souls go to rest?"
Isshin mentally prepared himself to not flinch from Ichigo's question. He already knew the answer to that. The only way Ichigo became a Hollow was if a Hollow devoured him when he died. But since both Masaki and Ichigo die at the same time. It could have been possible for the same Hollow who ate Ichigo's soul too had also taken Masaki's. And things don't get any better from there. The only reason for Ichigo to be the dominant soul was because he was more powerful than the Hollow who ate him so he was able to absorb it, but if the same Hollow ate Masaki, then it could have been possible for Ichigo to have devoured Masaki's soul.
This will be the one thing he won't tell Ichigo. He won't try to make his son believe he killed Masaki, that news would destroy his mind. Thinking about explaining the duties of a Shinigami as an answer to Ichigo's question, Isshin said, "The reason you probably didn't see Masaki with you was with the possibility that a Shinigami was able to send her to Soul Society."
"The place where Shinigami live?"
Isshin nodded. "Is not just a place for Shinigami, but for the souls sent there by Shinigami's, Masaki is probably living there, but it could be anywhere really, Soul Society is a huge place."
Glad that his mother didn't take the same fate as him, Ichigo stood up before walking towards his two grips and picking them up. "Thanks, Dad."
The ex-Captain walks up to his son to see what he was trying to do before looking at the black and white grips in his son's hands. "Is that supposed to be your Zanpakutō?"
The redhead releases an annoying sigh before answering back to his dad. "Kind of, this is just the stupid grips that I saw on my REAL Zanpakutō, I just can't get the stupid thing to appear."
"Have you tried to release it by maybe saying its name or a command?" Isshin asks, did Arrancar not hear their Zanpakutō's spirit?
"I have and I already know the asshole's name!" Ichigo sends the grips a glare.
Isshin just kept staring at the weapon in Ichigo's hands. Could it be that the swords were more than just Hollow and Shinigami's powers? Remembering the way Quincy could absorb Reishi around them to make weapons, Isshin looks back to Ichigo before starting to give his son instructions. "Gather Reishi around them."
"What? Gather Reishi? What would that do?" Does his sword need Reishi for them to activate?
"Let's just try it out and see what happens." Isshin patiently waited for his son to do as he instructed.
Ichigo didn't know why he hesitated to listen to his father; the man has been a Shinigami for over 100 years. He was far more experienced than him. 'Well, let's see how this goes.' Closing his eyes, Ichigo started concentrating on gathering Reishi from his surroundings.
Watching as Ichigo held the duo color grips in front of him and gathered Reishi, Isshin watches with astonishment as Ichigo's white skin seems to peel off. As every inch of Ichigo's body was now white-skin free and the 'skin' swirled above his son's head before it started storming around the black and white grips, Isshin finally understood what the white skin was.
'Reishi? Why was Ichigo covered in Reishi?' Before trying to think of an answer, Isshin could finally sense Ichigo's Reiatsu and he couldn't believe what he was sensing. Ichigo's Reiatsu was powerful, and it easily felt like he was Captain-class.
As the storm around Ichigo's hand settles down, Isshin sees Ichigo's Zanpakutō.
Sensing a bit of weight on his hands, Ichigo opens his eyes to see the very familiar buster blade that Zangetsu drove through him. Its false edge was a pitch black coloration while the true edge had a pure white one instead, the quillon of the sword was blue and adored by crosses.
The redhead couldn't stop the smile that spread under his mask. "It worked! It actually worked!" Holding up the blade with both grips, Ichigo turns to his father. "How did you know that would work?"
"If the Shinigami method wasn't working and we have nothing on what an Arrancar can do, I thought we should try our luck using the Quincy method."
"Does that mean I'm not just half-Shinigami and Hollow, but Quincy too?"
"Pretty much." Walking closer to Ichigo and inspecting his sword, Isshin notices something very interesting. 'I wonder...' Trying his luck for the second time, Isshin said, "Try to rip your Zanpakutō."
"Huh?" Looking from his dad to his blade, Ichigo was about to give a deadpan look when he remembered that his father figured out his own Zanpakutō when he couldn't. With a sigh and doing what he was told, he barely used any kind of strength to do his task, his Buster Blade split apart. His right hand held the white grip that had a blue sun that held the black part of his blade while his left hand held the black grip with a red moon and the white part.
"This is amazing..." That was pretty much the only thing Ichigo could say about right now.
"Well, looks like this settles it!"
Looking back at his father with a raised eyebrow, Ichigo says, "What are you talking about?"
"Isn't it simple!? I'm going to help you train!" Reply Isshin while putting his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest. "This will be a great way for father and son to bond!"
While his dad made it sound very corny, Ichigo has to give him a point. There's nothing wrong if he helps him train and bond at the same time. With a nod, Ichigo rested both his Zanpakutō around the black strap around his chest. "Then I guess we can start tomorrow."
Watching as his son headed towards his Gigai, Isshin decided that he should tease Ichigo about the little moment he had with Lily. "Return to bed with your girlfriend! Urahara told me you two share a room!"
"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
"That's not what I heard her say!"
As Ichigo left his dad to laugh at his own stupid joke, he took a moment to reach his Gigai and head back to his room. Opening the door to his room and quietly walking to his bed since Lily seems to be asleep, the amber-eyed Arrancar only took a minute to change his clothes to his sleeping garment, which only comprises a short.
Soon as his head touched the pillow, his eyes started closing. Mentally exhausted about the events that had taken place today. As he is falling asleep, Ichigo finally realizes what he can do now. 'I can protect you, I finally have a way to protect you, Lily...'
- 1 month later, Urahara's basement -
"C'mon Ichigo, you got this!"
"You can do it, Nii-chan!"
"Yeah! Kick Starrk's lazy ass already!"
"Finally, make that sloth take a spar seriously!"
"Damn it, Ichigo. I will smack you on the head if you don't finally get a win against Starrk!"
That last comment from Lily made Ichigo sweatdrop.
Why did she have to remind him that he hadn't won a single spar against the brunette. Turning to address her, Ichigo notices that both lime-haired women were watching his spar while eating Onigiri. "Damn it! Aren't you two supposed to be training!" He should really address everyone else who was watching his spar.
Urahara and Szayel were collecting data about him; Shinji was with Mashiro and Lily; Isshin was the referee and the Kurosaki twins were on the sideline wearing nurse's outfits. The only two people not present for the spar were Ulquiorra and Yoruichi; the werecat was out patrolling the town while the green-eyed Arrancar had disappeared, probably looking for a quiet place to read his book.
"Pay attention, Ichigo."
Hearing Starrk's voice behind him, Ichigo brought up his white blade to block Starrk's Zanpakutō. However, Starrk hit Ichigo with enough power to send the teen flying towards a pillar and having it come crashing down on him.
"Nii-chan!" Yuzu said before feeling a hand on her shoulders. She turns around to see her father's Shinigami form.
"Don't worry about Ichigo, it'll take more than that to bring him down!" Isshin sends his daughter a smile.
Yuzu could finally properly see the figures now, the only reason she was perfectly spiritually aware now was because the light-brunette twin has been spending her time down at Urahara's basement when everyone was training, and with the fact that every single being that was training downstairs easily have Captain-class Reiatsu, they finally influenced her.
As smoke filled the area where Ichigo got blasted towards, Starrk prepared himself for Ichigo's upcoming assault.
While inside the smoke, Ichigo was using the coverage to don his Hollow mask before smacking his forehead with the flat side of his sword. "Idiot, I can't use my mask anymore!" For whatever reason, after his power-up, he could no longer bring forth his Hollow mask. "Just gotta think of a different plan."
Starrk has never taken a spar with the Visoreds seriously; their powers just didn't seem to be anywhere near his for him to try, but Ichigo was a different story. As the redhead kept on training with his father, Starrk would never believe Ichigo could gain such strength with only a few weeks of training. After the 2nd week, Ichigo had asked for a spar against him, not seeing any reason to deny his request, he took his offer and the spar ended in his favor, but just because Ichigo lost it didn't mean he wouldn't ask for another spar the next day. And next thing Starrk knew, the spars seem to have become a normal routine for them; the brunette has noticed that with each defeat, Ichigo comes back stronger and wiser. He makes sure to never make the same mistake twice.
Watching as Ichigo comes launching from the cloud of smoke, with the black blade held high, Starrk ready himself to counter the real threat. Noticing how Ichigo's left hand seemed held back, he could see the red Reiatsu that was gathering behind him.
'Nice try Ichigo.'
Parrying away the black sword, Starrk took aim with his Zanpakutō and fired a Bala at Ichigo's white blade, dispersing his attack. He notices that Ichigo wasn't surprised by what he just did, he pretty much believes the redhead saw it coming.
Remembering that Ichigo is a dual wielder, his attention went back to the black blade that Ichigo was swinging back, red Reiatsu beginning to gather around it.
'Crap!'
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Thinking that perhaps he could block Ichigo's attack, Starrk let his instincts run and allowed the strongest Hierro his body could muster to cover his left hand before the slash attack reached him.
Stunned, Ichigo couldn't believe that Starrk blocked his attack with his bare hand, though he knew Hierro was protecting him, he still had a small cut that HE left on the palm of Starrk's hand.
'I cut him!?'
'He cut me?!'
'He actually cut him!' Shinji was more than shocked to see that Ichigo was the first among anyone to leave a wound on Starrk. The brunette's Hierro was no joke.
Jumping away from Ichigo, Starrk looks down at the wound on his hand. "I guess I need to take you more seriously now."
While hearing that from Starrk would have been good news for Ichigo, meaning that Starrk finally thinks of him being strong, the way how he was popping his neck and shoulders joints made Ichigo feel scared. "Now hold on a second Starrk, this is just a spar."
As Starrk vanishes from his spot with the most frightening speed ever, Ichigo only had a couple of seconds to cross his blades in front of him to block Starrk's Zanpakutō. Being brought down to one knee, Ichigo notices the blue Cero that the brunette was forming on his left hand.
While Starrk's intentions were to create a weak and normal Cero, the blood on his left hand was the catalyst for creating a Gran Rey Cero. Something that was just far too powerful to use underground, even if the Cero was to be weak.
As everyone was able to feel the change on the Cero, Starrk yelled at Ichigo. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Not told twice, Ichigo moved and allowed Starrk to fire the blue Gran Rey Cero to the farthest side of Urahara's basement.
Everyone watches as the Cero upon release spins like a razor as it compresses and decompresses because of the sheer speed and raw power, the attack was even disturbing the fabric of space as it travels. As the Gran Rey Cero finally hit the other side of the basement, it blinded everyone with a bright blue light before it vanished and then came what everyone was waiting for, the explosion.
"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Shinji screamed.
As everyone took cover from the massive explosion, it filled the entire basement with smoke, but after a few minutes, everything settled down.
Looking around and not seeing anyone, Ichigo became worried. "Hey! Is everyone okay!?" Grunts were the replies he got back and as he saw everyone standing back up, he released a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"What was that." Ulquiorra said as he finally appeared.
"The hell should I know." Ichigo was sure that Starrk's intention was to create a normal Cero and not the thing that he unleashed.
Turning around to ask Starrk about what he just did, Ichigo notice the way he was staring up at the ceiling of the basement and as he took a moment to see that everyone's attention seems to gather at the same thing Starrk was looking at, the redhead turn around and saw that after effect of the Gran Rey Cero...
The empowered Cero had made more room downstairs, far too much room. The Gran Rey Cero has triple the training ground's size.
As a bit of sunlight hits his face, Ichigo looks up to the fake sky to see a giant crack spreading across it. "You really need to teach me that move..." Not getting a reply from Starrk, the redhead teen turns his head towards the man when he notices the dreadful look on him. "Oi, Starrk, you—"
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU IDIOTS DO!"
Hearing Yoruichi's voice, Ichigo turns around to see that she wasn't in her cat form, and she was basically naked and patting in front of everyone. Before he could even blush, the next thing that she said made him pale.
"DO YOU DUMBASSES KNOW HOW POWERFUL THAT BLAST WAS!? YOU IDIOTS BROKE THE BARRIER THAT WAS HIDING YOUR REIATSU! IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE—"
"Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
As a giant armor fist breaks through Urahara's basement, the owner of the shop turns around and starts giving orders. "Isshin, get back into your Gigai and get the girls out of here! Shinji, Mashiro, both of you need to do the same thing!" Turning towards Starrk, he sent the man an apologetic look. "Looks like you're leaving far sooner than expected."
"Looks like it..." With a sigh, Starrk looks at every Arrancar once before returning his sights to their group scientist. "Szayel, open us a Garganta!"
"To where?" Szayel felt stupid for asking, he already knew where.
"Where else? We're going back home, to—"
"ZANGETSU!"
Hearing that child's voice. Ichigo and Isshin turn around to see Captain Hitsugaya standing between a Captain with armor on and another Captain with long, white hair.
If Tōshirō's turquoise eyes weren't so focused on Zangetsu, he could have spotted the man who strongly resembles his old Captain.
As Starrk turned around to Ichigo, the brunette could see the hate in Ichigo's eyes. "Ichigo! Right now is not the time for that crap!" Turning around to make sure Szayel did his task, Starrk was happy to see a Garganta open. "Everyone inside! We're leaving!"
"You Hollows aren't going anywhere!" Captain Hitsugaya exclaimed. "Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!" As he unleashed his Bankai, Tōshirō started gathering Reiatsu with his sword and after finally feeling he had enough power, he launched an ice dragon towards Ichigo.
The redhead blocked out Starrk's voice that was asking for him to get inside the Garganta. His entire focus was on Captain Hitsugaya. Right now was his chance to show the young Captain the strength he has gained to protect the ones he holds close to his heart.
Ichigo lets his body guide him, building up Reiatsu on both blades, the redhead fires a Getsuga Tenshō from each of them.
"Getsuga Jūjishō!"
As Ichigo called out his attack's name, everyone watches with amazement as both Getsuga Tenshō fuse into a large, cross-shaped blast of energy and as it met Tōshirō's ice dragon, the energy attack destroyed through it and kept going towards the Shinigami Captains. As Getsuga Jūjishō got closer, all the Captain's move away from the attack, even Captain Komamura wasn't stupid enough to use his Bankai to block such destructive power. As another powerful force hit Urahara's basement once again, the entire area started collapsing.
"Ichigo, now is the time to go!" Starrk yelled.
Just when he was about to listen to the brunette and follow him inside the Garganta, Ichigo finally realizes that he is leaving his family again. Turning around to look for them, he spotted Isshin inside his Gigai, holding Yuzu and Karin close to his chest.
"Just listen to Starrk, Ichigo! Don't worry about us!" Isshin said.
"Go Nii-chan!" Yelled both Kurosaki twins.
Seeing the sad expression on Ichigo's face, Isshin gave his son a smile. "Don't worry Ichigo, we'll meet again."
Believing in his father's word, Ichigo only responds was a nod before running through the Garganta.
Captain Hitsugaya was not happy when the Arrancar's hideout finally finished collapsing. "Damn it!" Once again the Hollows have escaped, but that's not what he was most angry about. The Captain-prodigy has been training for 8 months to kill Zangetsu, but it looks like the Hollow has been training as well and he seems to still be ahead of him. "Next time, next time you won't escape me."
Urahara releases a sigh once the entire base has finished collapsing, taking everything with it, from his lab to the humble shop he has created. He was at least happy that Tessai was able to get out. Well, looks like he has no other choice now, turning to look at the Visoreds, Urahara gave his future roommates a smile. "Well, Shinji-san! Looks like I have no choice but to move in with you guys now!"
With his only response being a grunt from the Visored's leader, Urahara and his friends follow Shinji to the Visored's hideout. With one last look back to the place that has been a home for him for over 100 years, the now ex-shopkeeper released one last sigh. 'I hope it's better safe with all of you than with me.'
- Hueco Mundo-
As everyone finally made it to the other side of the Garganta, Starrk ran a hand through his hair and looked around his surroundings. They were up in the white sands of Hueco Mundo. "Well, looks like we're finally back home."
No one said anything, they were all waiting for Starrk to say it, but as the brunette went into a long silence, Szayel coughed into his hand, gaining his attention.
"Are we going to, you know, deal with Baraggan?"
Everyone already knew the answer to that. Without Ichigo's Cero Capa, Baraggan will find them.
"Yeah... it's about time we meet the King of Hueco Mundo."
-X-
Annnnd done wooo, that took a while lol, sorry about that. Took a week of family vacation. So wow, so much to say about this chapter.. Where to start... hmmm.
Okay, let's start with Ichigo meeting his dad. I was never going to make a goody-good scene with him meeting Isshin again and such. Ichigo wanted answers and he was going to get them.
Gave some information about the training that everyone has taken. Even explain the difference between the Visored's Hollows mask and Ichigo's mask.
Had Isshin come clean.
And for those who had hope for Uryu to be saved, well sorry to tell you this but he got captured, and he won't have it good either, especially with Mayuri experimenting on him. We had another look of Ichigo's Quincy ability. Which I'm going to clear it out a bit more. Basically, Ichigo could absorb anything that's basically Reishi. Wish, some of you know, a lot of things are made out of Reishi. Also, Blut Feuer means Fire Blood or is it Blood fire? Lol, anyways that's what Mayuri had named Ichigo's blue-flame markings that were on his skin.
Added another little Ichigo and Lily moment. Ah yes, if anyone is curious as to what their new clothes look like, Ichigo is basically wearing the reverse version of his Fullbring outfit, just google Ichigo Fullbring Bankai. As for what Lily is wearing, she has the exact same clothes as Asuna (from Sword Art Online) when she was in a member of the KoB, Knights of Blood.
Ichigo finally was able to 'release' his Zanpakutō.
Isshin has hidden the fact that Ichigo basically devours Masaki's souls.
Added some fights.
This part of the A/N answers 777torn777 question about everyone current power level. If anyone wishes to know the current power level of everyone, Starrk and Ulquiorra are pretty much at the same level as their Canon-part, HOWEVER, they both will become more powerful. Szayel's currently weaker than his canon-version. Ichigo is currently strong as pre-time skip Grimmjow and Lily is currently strong as Zommari, the 7th Espada, which I know doesn't tell much with the way he was defeated in the anime pretty easily but do remember he was strong enough to wound Byakuya. And no, Urahara hasn't been training. Also, one thing that everyone should take note of is the fact that the Visoreds will be stronger than their canon-counterpart.
And with nothing more, the next chapter will be the big one! Starrk v.s Baraggan! (Remember now, Baraggan will be stronger than he was in the anime now.)
Next Chapter will be up in 2-3 weeks!
-Ten Out.