Disclaimer : I do not own anything from Bleach. If I did, Shinji and the Visoreds would've been way more powerful than canon. But I still like the way Shinji tried to mess up Bambietta's head with his words and then got blew up by her Schrift. It was hilarious. I'm definitely looking forward to see that scene when the TYBW arc begins in the Anime.
(2021-05-11) I decided to inform the differences between canon and my story at the start of the chapter. Thanks for the suggestion, Antex-The Legendary Zoroark! - I put some thought into it, and decided to place it at the end of chapter again, since the AN at the start got a bit too long.
(2021-05-25) The pairing is now IchigoXMulti with Giselle being the main. The other pairings are Meninas, Candice, and Bambietta.
(2021-07-16) I revised the whole chapter, making the chapter now 15k, from the original 12k words, including the AN. I will be revising the next few chapters, probably until chapter 4 to 5.
Main Pairing IchigoXGiselle, IchigoXMulti
The Tower - XVI
Urahara Shōten, the day Ichigo left Karakura Town.
"Kisuke, are you really sure about this? I mean, I've seen how the kid is faring, and if we don't do something soon enough, he's gonna break!" The black cat growled out while scratching the wall, irritated at the passive measures they were taking.
"Well, Yoruichi-san, I'm still working out a way to remove the alterations in their memory, but I'm stuck. This Fullbring really is a difficult issue, so even I'm not that sure about when I'll be able to come up with a solution. And you know what will happen should we attempt to restore Kurosaki-san's powers, as we already went through this at least once every day... The Central 46 specifically gave us the orders to leave Kurosaki-san out of the matters of the afterlife, and if we go against those direct orders, they gain the excuse to lift the pardon we received. You know that the new Central 46 are still suspicious about us..."
"I know, I know! And why do we even care about the consequences? It's not like we weren't exiles for the past century, Kisuke!" said Yoruichi, still scratching the wall with her razor-sharp claws.
"Who knows what they'll try to do with Kurosaki-san, when they do find out? I don't really understand why they are trying this hard to keep Kurosaki-san from gaining his powers again, unless there's something that they want to hide from him. Maybe they didn't want to take the risk of a powerful Shinigami, who doesn't care about their orders?" Kisuke wondered out loud, scratching his chin.
"If I were to bet, I'd place my bet on the first one..." Yoruichi grumbled.
"Well, if we consider the fact that Kenpachi was banned from learning any proper Zanjutsu, the idea of an uncontrollable Captain-level Shinigami going rogue or rebelling against them just may be one of their worries. I must say though, this pardon actually has more downs than ups. We really had much more freedom when we were exiles..." Kisuke sighed, while sweat-dropping at the sight of the wallpapers on his wall getting damaged by the black menace's claws.
'She really needs to stop doing that... It's not like I can use my Bankai to fix it. Benihime will never forgive me if I actually pull something like that.' Kisuke couldn't help, but to cringe at the thought.
"Why did we even agree to let the kid handle the whole situation on his own in the first place?! You, I can understand to some extent. You were probably thinking about that folklore, Kaiser Gesang, right? The sealed Quincy King would regain his pulse after 900 years. Another 90 years and he would regain his intellect. After 9 more years he would regain his strength. It's been almost eight years since Masaki's death, and if it really is true, then the Quincy King will return in about a year's time." Yoruichi stated, lifting her claws off the wall to show her seriousness on the particular topic.
"Why yes, you know me too well, Yoruichi-san..."
"But are you sure that this really is the case? It says he would regain his strength 'after' 9 more years, so it means either he didn't return or he already has." Kisuke nodded his head at Yoruichi's rare moment of brilliance. She was more of an instinctual person than a rational person, although it didn't necessarily mean that her intelligence was lacking in any way. Cats were clever animals, after all.
"I'm actually thinking about the possibility, that the lines might not be the same as the original used to be. What if it was 'He would regain his strength for 9 more years', and not after? We all know what happened to Kanae-san and Masaki-san, although how Ishida-san and the Kurosaki siblings weren't subjected to it is still quite the mystery to me." Kisuke stated, eliciting a nod from Yoruichi.
"A plausible theory..." agreed Yoruichi, but Kisuke sensed a 'but' coming from her expression. He had no idea how he could tell that, since Yoruichi was still a cat, but he could. "But it is just that, a theory. Besides, I don't think Ryūken would've been so sure about it, if it was a wrong version of the Kaiser Gesang he told us. And you still didn't tell me the exact reason of why you agreed to let Ichigo handle everything."
Kisuke couldn't help but to gulp when he noticed Yoruichi's narrowed eyes, much more menacing than it usually was since she was currently in her feline form. He could always wiggle his way out with his cryptic words, but something told him that he wouldn't like the consequences.
"Well... I'm certain that the Soul Society will want Kurosaki-san's help one way or another soon enough, based on what we were expecting. I was also kind of hoping for Kurosaki-san to feel betrayed by the Soul Society, so he wouldn't try to help them should the time come. He has already done too much for them, and he isn't even in his twenties yet." Kisuke explained some of his reasons more clearly than he already did.
'Not to mention that they really need a harsh wake up call, and that they deserve whatever happens to them. Aizen with the Hōgyoku was more than enough of a threat to disrupt the balance of the three worlds, but with Yhwach, the Zero Division should be more than enough to defeat him. After all, the Zero Division wasn't even involved in the first war and Yhwach still lost.'
Kisuke wasn't underestimating the threat of Yhwach. He knew that the Seireitei would be decimated if they were oblivious to the upcoming war, but the Gotei 13 had become lax over the years. It wasn't that he wanted the current Gotei 13 to be like the original Gotei 13, but everything that had happened over the past century or two made him doubt the Gotei 13 greatly, or the nobles to be specific.
The nobles of the Soul Society were mostly corrupt, leading to the corruption of the Central 46. The Gotei 13 took orders from the Central 46, and that had become absolute. It wasn't like that in the earlier days of the Gotei 13, but Head-Captain Yamamoto had become nothing more than a shadow that blindly follows whatever the Central 46 orders. The fact that he followed the forged orders of Central 46 under Aizen's control was a solid proof.
"That's kinda surprising, coming from you Kisuke. Never knew that you cared that much about your student..." said Yoruichi in a teasing manner.
"Well, Kurosaki-san's just... different, so to speak."
Yoruichi wasn't oblivious to Kisuke's thoughts. They grew up together, and were nearly inseparable throughout their whole life. It wasn't a romantic sense of relationship they had, but if someone were to ask Yoruichi a question about the person she trusted her life with the most, the answer would be obvious. Their bond was much more than that of a close friend, but something more, soulmates if she was feeling generous. 'Although since we ARE actually souls, the term is anything but special in a literal sense... Shit, Kisuke is rubbing off on me.'
"So, you think that the Gotei 13 won't be able to deal with the Quincies on their own," stated Yoruichi. She herself knew that to be a fact, with all the events that had occurred in the past few years. Some human teenagers storming the Soul Society was a ludicrous thought, even with a little guidance on her part.
Sure, Aizen wanted that to happen, and used it to his advantage. But it didn't change the fact that the current Gotei 13 was a laughing stock compared to the founding members, or even when she herself was a Captain.
"I do." Kisuke agreed without hesitation.
"As much as I agree with you Kisuke, I can't help but to ask this. Have you thought about how Ichigo would feel about our actions? He probably thinks that we let all that shit happen to him a few days ago, and we did!" Yoruichi face-pawed when she saw Kisuke's stupid expression upon hearing her words. "Oh god, you out of all people, actually didn't think about it? You IDIOT! I'm gonna visit him tonight and give him some long overdue explanations, and that's final! If you dare say no..." Yoruichi stuck out her claws, daring him to say otherwise.
"Yes I think you are right, Yoruichi-san! Please don't hurt me!" Kisuke cowered at Yoruichi's menacing glare, but it didn't stop him from throwing in some firewood. "Although I can't help but to wonder... what was Isshin-san thinking, when he agreed to this?"
Yoruichi face-pawed once more, muttering 'Men...' under her breath.
"I've had enough of Isshin trying to hide here, in order to avoid his own son anyway. I hope Ichigo kicks his ass for what he did!" Yoruichi said while thinking about her favorite pupil. While she cared about both of her pupil fairly, Ichigo was way more fun, due to his reaction when she teased him. Soi Fon basically worshiped everything she did except abandoning her, so it really wasn't all that fun anymore.
Little did they know, that the bus had already left when they finally decided to take it.
Silbern, Personal Quarters of the Sternritter 'Z'
"Gah! That was fucking freezing, Gigi!" Ichigo cried out as he stumbled out of the shadows, which amused Giselle greatly.
"Well there is a reason we all wear this uniform, other than to show that we are a member of the Wandenreich! It's unbearably cold around here, not only when we travel through the shadows. Silbern itself is freezing all the time, considering how it basically exists within the realm of the shadows. Our uniform is embedded with a special type of reishi which is resistant to the shadows, so you'll have to wear one if you don't want to feel that again." Giselle said while moving towards her bed, where a set of neatly folded male uniform was lying on top of it.
Ichigo arched his brows when he noticed this. Were they really that confident, that he would accept their offer?
"This was something I requested before I left for the Human World. It's the standard male Sternritter uniform, and if you want to change the style you'll have to become a full-fledged Sternritter first. The same goes with the cloaks, but it's something only us Sternritter can wear," said Giselle, while picking up the uniform. She noticed the look Ichigo was giving her, and added with a blush. "I thought that a high priority recruit like you will make it into our ranks easily if given time. This was made based on the observation records in the Daten so while it isn't perfect, it'll fit you just enough to feel comfortable. I didn't expect it to be ready... but oh, well!"
"And pray tell, what do you mean by that...?" Ichigo said while rubbing his temple, when he heard Giselle giggle in a perverse manner. He could easily tell when someone was teasing him, or was about to do so. He was used to it because of Yoruichi-san after all.
"Well if it wasn't ready, then you would've been freezing... And then you would have no choice, but to join me in my bed..." Giselle replied with a suggestive grin on her lips, while the blush on her cheeks reddened in color. Ichigo noticed this little detail, despite the same blush that was spreading like wildfire on his own cheeks.
Ichigo didn't voice it aloud, but he knew that he wouldn't mind, as long as anything overly inappropriate didn't happen. He wasn't ready to play her game yet, despite how much he actually enjoyed her flirting, not that he would admit it or anything. It wasn't like when Rangiku or Yoruichi 'flirted' with him, since there was a major difference. Ichigo could tell that Giselle was genuinely trying to flirt with him unlike the other two, who were more intent on teasing him.
"So... Where should I change?" Ichigo trailed off while averting his eyes, since he really didn't want to see Giselle's expression at the moment. He just knew that it would be an embarrassing moment for him, if he did see her expression.
"Aww... Fine, I'll just wait outside. Talk about the tail wagging the dog... Just to let you know, if you take too long I'm gonna take a peek!" Giselle placed the set of uniform in his hands, and left the room while giggling, leaving Ichigo alone in her personal quarters.
Ichigo decided to not take any chances. He hastily slipped on the plain white long-sleeve shirt with a thin blue cross running down the center, and matching white trousers. Then, he slipped the black leather belt with a white belt buckle around his waist, and slid his feet into the white military boots. To his surprise, it actually fit more comfortably than the shoes he usually wore.
'Just enough to feel comfortable? That's the understatement of the century.' Ichigo thought to himself, draping the thigh-length double-breasted trench coat - which was unsurprisingly white - around him. He wondered if he should put on the cap or not for a moment. Ichigo shrugged and put it on, thinking 'Why not?'.
As Ichigo checked out his over-all appearance in front of a full body mirror, he had to admit to himself that it honestly suited him better, way better compared to the black Shinigami shihakusho. Although there were some minor changes he would like to add, Giselle did say he needed to become a full-fledged Sternritter to earn that right.
'If my hair was a bit longer, it would look pretty badass...' Ichigo mused to himself. He didn't know exactly why, but the thought of growing his hair was appealing to him. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he actually did look badass when he used Mugetsu.
"But seriously, what's with all these red stains...?" Ichigo muttered, and picked up a cylinder shaped vial filled with some kind of red liquid. It didn't take him long to realize that it was blood. "The fuck?"
'Why would she store blood in a vial?' Ichigo wondered, thinking that something was off about the situation. It's not like Giselle was a Vampire or something like that, right? Sure, there were weirder things than a Vampire which he knew for a fact that existed, but a Vampire? Maybe he was overthinking things.
It was precisely that moment when Giselle entered the room with another person. He was a tall man with long blonde hair almost stretching down to his waist, and about a head taller compared to Ichigo. His light green eyes and blonde eyelashes gave him an exotic look, and Ichigo could easily admit that he was probably the most handsome man he had ever seen.
"Oh, I see you dressed... Oh." Giselle's smile faltered, and her head dropped when she saw Ichigo holding the vial of her blood in his hand. She knew that this was inevitable for her, but she most certainly didn't want it to happen this soon. What would his reaction be, when she told him that it was her own blood? How would he react when he learned the nature of her Schrift? Giselle was almost panicking, when she heard Ichigo's calm voice.
"I'm not going to judge you before you tell me anything, Gigi."
Giselle's head shot up when Ichigo still called her 'Gigi', and she saw the look in his eyes. They weren't filled with disgust or any kind of emotion that would've upset her. Was Ichigo... giving her a chance?
"Well, I've done enough of jumping to conclusions to cover a lifetime," Ichigo sheepishly admitted while scratching the back of his neck. "As I said, until you tell me the full version of your story, I won't think any different of you. I promise."
Giselle couldn't believe what she was hearing. She gaped at the orange-haired teen in shock, and shut her eyes after a few seconds. Ichigo noticed the tear drops that had formed on the corner of her eyes, but decided against saying anything. She took a few deep breaths, and eventually calmed down enough to give Ichigo an appreciative nod, along with a watery smile.
Ichigo noticed that it was the most genuine expression he had seen on her face, and returned a faint smile of his own. He then turned his attention to the other person in the room, who seemed to be somewhat amused at their interaction. Ichigo wasn't entirely sure about his observation due to the man's stoic demeanor, but he had a feeling that the said person was indeed amused.
"I doubt that it would be proper for an emperor to visit his subordinates or a soon-to-be-one personally, so I'm gonna guess that you're one of the Sternritter. I have no idea if you knew of her mission or not, so I'll introduce myself first. The name's Kurosaki Ichigo, and I don't have any fancy titles to add to that. Pleasure to meet you." Ichigo spoke firmly, extending his arm.
Jugram Haschwalt eyed the orange-haired teen cautiously. He was on his way to one of the training grounds to see if anyone was up for a spar, when Giselle suddenly appeared from nowhere, and grabbed him. She then started to drag him to her personal quarters without giving any choice on the matter. The girl rambled on and on, about how she succeeded the mission his majesty assigned yesterday, and how she must have broke the time record. She stated that even he would be surprised at what she had achieved, which caught his interest.
At that point, Jugram tuned out her voice and wondered just what this mission could possibly be, if she was dragging him to her personal quarters with such enthusiasm. While his physical appearance was the same as the time when he was a young man, his age was well over a thousand years. There really wasn't anything that could surprise him... until now. Jugram's eyes widened in surprise as he heard the unexpected name.
"Kurosaki Ichigo...? Giselle Gewelle, If this is some kind of joke-"
Giselle narrowed her eyes, and interrupted Jugram before he even had the chance to finish his words. "You of all people should know that I wouldn't dare to joke with anything that is remotely involved with His Majesty!"
Jugram realized that he had struck her nerve when he heard the girl's indignant response. Giselle rarely showed anger to anyone, and he had made her do so by doubting her loyalty to His Majesty. What was worse about the act, was that he would've felt the same rage if someone were to say that to him in this situation.
"I apologize for degrading your honor. It was uncalled for, and won't happen again. I was quite surprised to hear that name in Silbern... especially in person. I shall accept one request of any kind within reason, if only to make up for my mistake," said Jugram, who dipped his head in a small bow to show that he was being genuine.
Giselle glared at Jugram for a moment, and nodded her head to show that she acknowledged his apology. Jugram turned back to Ichigo who had been silently watching the situation, and spoke in his usual collected demeanor.
"I also owe you an apology for placing you in such an uncomfortable position," said Jugram, earning a surprised look from Ichigo, since he certainly wasn't expecting an apology. "While I doubt that anyone would've expected to see you in Silbern, including myself, I still feel compelled to ask for your forgiveness."
Ichigo didn't really need an apology, but he could easily tell that the man in front of him was an honorable person. "I, err... appreciate it, but it isn't necessary. So... feel like introducing yourself?"
Jugram glanced at Ichigo inquisitively, unsure of what to think of the former Substitute Shinigami. Nevertheless, Ichigo had yet to retract his outstretched hand so he reacted accordingly, exactly what was expected of him.
"The Sternritter Grandmaster, Jugram Haschwalt. I do have some titles to add, but I pride myself in my position as the Grandmaster the most," said Jugram, while he reached out, and shook Ichigo's hand firmly. "Considering your current attire, am I right to guess that you are here to serve under the banner of His Majesty? And may I ask your reasons, if it does not bother you?"
Jugram narrowed his eyes a little when he asked the question, knowing that if Kurosaki Ichigo had his own agenda that would induce any kind of harm to His Majesty, it was his duty to prevent it before anything could happen. Ichigo could sense the suspicion radiating from the blonde, which didn't surprise him. His position as the Grandmaster of the Sternritter obviously indicated that he held a high position in the Wandenreich, so he would be worried if the man immediately started to trust him.
"Yeah, well your guess is partially right. I am going to join the Wandenreich under the sole condition, that His Majesty provides me some answers to a few questions of mine, regarding our future plans. As for the reason I decided to join...? His Majesty promised his help on my little problem, but if I were to be honest, it would be to follow my mother's footsteps as a proud Quincy," Ichigo replied truthfully, and added another piece. "I can understand where you are coming from, but I do not have any reason to oppose His Majesty at the moment. Plus, I doubt that His Majesty would've tried to recruit me, should I have any reason to oppose him within his empire."
"I see..." Jugram nodded while pondering about the information he had.
'Does he not know about His Majesty's involvement with his mother's death? Or was there a change to the situation that I was unaware of?'
Jugram cleared his thoughts, and came to the conclusion that if His Majesty thought it would be safe to recruit him, there would be a good enough reason for it. He was an advisor, but His Majesty was more than capable enough to make such important decisions on his own. "Follow me if you wish to meet His Majesty. There is still some time left before the night comes, so I see no problem on the matter."
As Jugram turned around and started to walk away, Ichigo couldn't help but to wonder. Exactly why did Jugram's wording sounded like there would be a problem meeting the emperor if it was nighttime. It wasn't like the emperor needed his beauty sleep, right?
Ichigo and Giselle followed Jugram, as he led them through the wide halls of Silbern. Ichigo was in awe at the sight of the frozen palace, as he observed the surroundings while the three made their way to the throne room. The palace was quite beautiful in its own right, although if it wasn't the uniform he currently had on himself, Ichigo doubted that it would be anywhere near pleasant.
"Haschwalt-san, I have a few questions regarding the Sternritter if you don't mind answering?" asked Ichigo, receiving a small nod from Jugram. Ichigo glanced at Giselle, who had been keeping to herself for quite some time, and started to ask his questions. "I heard from Gigi, that this 'Daten' holds information about me. Am I correct to assume that this 'Daten', holds information about your... I mean, our potential enemies? And if it that's the case, how strong are the Sternritter compared to the Captains of the Gotei 13? In a non-biased manner that is. Oh, I'd like to know the numbers of the Sternritter too, if it wouldn't be a problem."
Jugram stopped in his tracks for a few seconds with a thoughtful expression, and came to the conclusion that it wouldn't hurt to tell Ichigo some information about themselves... Especially when he was constantly making the effort to adjust himself into the empire, which pleased him to no end. Also, Ichigo didn't seem like the type to use the information against them in his opinion, which meant that he didn't look like the backstabbing kind.
"Yes, our Daten does hold information about almost every Shinigami above fifth-seat officers, observed from the shadows over the years. The abilities of the enemy's Shikai and Bankai that could be observed in the Seireitei... Every invention that was made in the R&D department, along with their current ongoing projects. We knew what Aizen was doing all those years before he defected, which the Shinigami obviously did not. We've seen what kind of vile experiments were done under the current 12th Division Captain," At this point Giselle's eyes lit up with silent fury.
'Oh, when we start the war, I know exactly where and who I'm going to deal with.'
"As for the strength of our Sternritter, it wouldn't be wrong of me to assume that most of them are above Captain-level, if I were to be honest. Although I am unsure of how they would fare against the more experienced and stronger Captains, such as the Captains of the 4th, 8th, 13th Divisions, they will not have any problems facing the other Captains." Jugram answered Ichigo's question honestly, and Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing an unexpected name, who had been included as one of the 'stronger Captains' category.
"Say... when you say the 4th Division Captain, you're talking about Unohana Retsu, right? I didn't even know that she was capable of fighting, much less being one of the stronger Captains. She was really kind and sweet when she treated my wounds, and she seemed so harmless with the way she disliked conflicts..." Ichigo trailed off, and a realization hit him. 'So, there was a reason she could easily scare the other Shinigami with her intimidating smile...'
"There was a time, when Unohana Retsu was known as the most blood-thirsty murderer to ever exist in the Soul Society. During the first war a thousand years ago, she went by the name Yachiru Kenpachi, the first Kenpachi. I've seen her smile, while covered in our soldat's blood with my own eyes. We do not know exactly what event caused her to let go of her sword and learn the art of healing, but we believe that she will raise her sword once more, should the time of war comes." Jugram replied, not that surprised about the fact that Ichigo didn't know of the 4th Division Captain's capability. It wasn't a well known fact in the Soul Society, seeing how most of the younger Captains didn't even know about her past.
'He was a participant in the war a thousand years ago? He barely looks a few years older than me...' Ichigo thought to himself in surprise.
"The first Kenpachi, huh? Yeah, I remember hearing about the fact that the title of Kenpachi is a hereditary name, and that every Kenpachi killed the former in battle to take the title. I wonder how she's still alive, if she was the first Kenpachi." Ichigo voiced his question about the matter, which was answered by Giselle.
"Well, obviously... it must be something connected with the very event that made her forsake fighting, and choose to heal people instead of killing them."
"I knew that." Ichigo muttered under his breath in a pouting manner which made Giselle giggle. Still, Ichigo was glad that the girl seemed to have recovered from her emotional state. He didn't want to see her like that.
"To further answer your original question, with the exception of those three, plus Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Zaraki Kenpachi, most of the other Captains and Lieutenants won't be able to gain the upper hand against the Sternritter, if not all. More so, when the numbers of our Sternritter outnumbers the Shinigami Captains by twofold. While their Head-Captain is truly on a whole different level, His Majesty will be able to defeat him for certain, especially when he has decided against asking for Inoue Orihime's help on restoring his missing limb, all for the sake of his foolish pride," said Jugram.
"Huh... Yeah, I never really understood why they wouldn't ask for Inoue's help. With her ability, she could've restored his arm, and probably heal Captain Ukitake's disease too." Ichigo nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Zaraki Kenpachi cannot utilize his Zanpakutō's abilities, so although one of the preparations we have planned for the war will be rendered useless against him, one of the elite Sternritter is assigned with the task to face him in the war. We weren't entirely certain about the outcome, but I do not think it would be a problem to us anymore, since another Special War Power has decided to join us. As another Special War Power, you will be able to defeat him if given enough time for your holy training. The real problem, is not the Gotei 13." Jugram grimaced for a second, as he thought about the real threats. They would prove to be a bigger hindrance than the Gotei 13, but he did not doubt their chances of victory.
"What is this 'real problem' as you put it? The only threat I can think of is... oh." It didn't take long for Ichigo to figure it out. "You mean the Royal Guard. Giselle told me about Hyōsube Ichibē, and since we lost the first war badly, there wouldn't be any solid information about the Royal Guards. The only thing I actually know about them, is the rumor about the Royal Guard being stronger than the whole Gotei 13 combined."
Ichigo understood where Jugram's concern was coming from. But at the same time, Ichigo was worried about another matter. He could tell from the name 'Royal Guards', that they would only interfere if the Soul King was under any kind of threat. But why would the Wandenreich target the Soul King? It was one of the questions he wanted to ask the emperor. 'If their goals are anything like Aizen...'
Ichigo was brought out of his thoughts upon hearing Jugram's reply.
"Yes, your assumption is correct. But there is also the possibility of the Gotei 13 releasing Aizen Sōsuke from his prison if they feel threatened enough," said Jugram, and Ichigo thought for a second that Jugram was joking. He almost cursed out loud, when he realized that the man was indeed serious. "I sincerely hope not. I sacrificed my powers once to save their ass from him, and if they just let him out to fight a war for them, my sacrifice would've been for nothing."
Jugram almost pitied the misguided Quincy, since he was quite certain that Aizen Sōsuke would prove to be the most dangerous foe in the upcoming war. The Shinigami didn't hesitate to use underhanded tactics, so the older Shinigami would have no such qualms about releasing Aizen to fight for them in a time of crisis.
"For your last question about the numbers of the Sternritter... The Sternritter are each given a letter from His Majesty, which is the equivalent of the English Alphabet. Currently, there is no Sternritter 'A', but there are two Sternritters who hold the 'Y'. I am the Sternritter 'B', while Giselle Gewelle is the 'Z'. That makes the number of our Sternritters the total of twenty-six. If you prove yourself worthy enough to join our ranks, it will raise our number to twenty-seven."
Ichigo's jaw dropped, as he thought about the raw power of twenty-six Captain level Quincy, along with their emperor whose power would be more than enough to defeat the Head-Captain. The Gotei had struggled against the Espada, and now they would have to face an enemy on the same level with twice the number.
"Well... shit. On top of that, the Shinigami doesn't even know about the existence of the Wandenreich, much less our strength... I'd say that all things considered, our chances on this war is extremely high."
"Indeed. For that reason, our concerns were mainly focused on the Special War Powers and the Royal Guards. Your presence here greatly lifts our burden of facing more unpredictable enemies. Also, His Majesty will be quite relieved to know that he wouldn't have to face one of his own children as a foe," Jugram said, glad that Ichigo seemed to be quite willing to fit into the empire.
It showed from his usage of words, such as 'our', 'we' and 'His Majesty'. Jugram smiled softly at the thought of His Majesty gaining another loyal Sternritter under his banner. As a Gemischt Quincy who hadn't been subjected to the Auswählen, Ichigo would most likely hold more potential than most of the Echt Quincy, so his blood status was of no concern.
After a rather lengthy walk with some more conversation, the group had arrived at the hall that led entrance to the throne room. That was when a rough voice could be heard.
"Oi, Jugo. Up for a little spar... Ho? Are my eyes malfunctioning? Cuz I see someone... who I would've never imagined to meet in Silbern out of all places, not even in my dreams? Is he 'the' Kurosaki Ichigo?"
Jugram couldn't help, but to sigh in annoyance. It was just their unfortunate luck to meet 'him' out of all the people they could've met right in front of the throne room.
"I don't really know about 'the' Kurosaki Ichigo part, but if you're asking about my name, then I'd say that I am Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo replied, while he observed the red-haired man, wondering why all the people he met who had red hair, also liked to adopt a weird hairstyle. Renji's hair looked like a pineapple, while this guy's hair resembled a rooster's comb. 'Oh, it's Mohawk style. At least his hairstyle does suit him. Still, weird.'
Ichigo kept his thought to himself, since he knew better than to voice his thoughts about other people's appearance. He had learned that out of experience, after all.
"Now when did this happen, I wonder? The name's Buzzard Black, Sternritter 'H'... and I'm proud to say that I'm the hottest guy in Silbern! But you can call me Bazz-B. I'm gonna look forward to have a spar with you, Kurosaki! Seems like you have some business with His Majesty, so I'm not gonna hold you guys. See'ya!" Bazz-B left almost as fast as he suddenly appeared, and Ichigo wasn't sure if he should be glad that another Sternritter seemed to accept him easily, or worried that his first words held too much similarity to Zaraki.
'Well, at least he worded it as a spar instead of a fight... right?'
"I wasn't really expecting our residence rooster to leave that easily... The usual Bazz-B would've said things like 'You don't look that strong in my opinion.', or something like that." Giselle said with a thoughtful expression.
"So did I, but it seems that he was in a good mood. It is a good thing for us, as he is usually the epitome of annoyance." Jugram stated while continuing to walk towards the throne room.
"You never refuse when he asks you to spar with him..." Giselle drawled out, knowing that Jugram and Bazz-B were friends, even before the forming of the Wandenreich.
"If I refuse, he will never stop chasing me around." Jugram closed his eyes to show that he won't take any retorts on the matter.
"More like you enjoy beating the shit out of Bazz-B's annoying ass?" Giselle retorted, completely ignoring his gesture. Jugram tried to ignore her words in response, but ended up grunting in agreement. At this point, Ichigo couldn't help but let out a chuckle. To see the seemingly emotionless man acknowledge Giselle's retort was absolutely hilarious, that he really couldn't help it.
"We have arrived. While I will not ask for you to show the same respect as we do, please refrain from acting in a disrespectful manner." Jugram warned Ichigo. He received a salute from the soldat on guard duty, which he returned with an acknowledging nod.
"Please, I'm not that stupid... or at least not anymore." Ichigo grimaced as he thought about the event, that caused him to change. Still, the fact that he was able to change a little for the better cut off the depressing memory. "If you really thought that I would dare to show any form of disrespect to His Majesty, I can honestly say that I do not want to know my reputation among the Sternritter. I know when I must be respectful, and when I don't need to. I usually just choose not to, but I can, and will show respect in this case, so you need not worry... Sir Grandmaster."
Jugram's eyes twitched at Ichigo's small jab at his mention of 'disrespectful manner', by addressing him in a formal way that he last heard a few decades ago. Jugram nodded, acknowledging Ichigo's ability to show proper respect if needed be.
Ichigo understood the difference between this situation, and him not addressing the Head-Captain of the Gotei 13 in a respectful manner. He was never a member of the Gotei, and he never would be, which meant that he really wouldn't have any problems if he didn't respect the Head-Captain, except earning the ire of a few people. In this case, he was basically pledging his loyalty to the emperor, and it was required of him to show proper respect.
"Then follow me," said Jugram, with a nod.
The three Quincy entered the wide open doors, and Ichigo's eyes almost bulged out at the sight of the emperor's appearance.
'Zangetsu...?'
Thankfully Ichigo didn't make the mistake of voicing it out loud. But now, he was curious about just why in the hell the emperor looked like an older version of Zangetsu. He could think of a theory, but he wouldn't know the truth unless Zangetsu himself confirmed it.
Jugram walked up to the emperor and knelt down from some distance, Giselle following suit. Ichigo mimicked their actions almost flawlessly, to the surprise of the other Sternritter. Yhwach raised his brows at this, since he did not expect Giselle to succeed in her mission this soon. He was also mildly shocked that his son, who had been born in the darkness, would actually show him such respect. Considering his disrespectful behavior towards the Shinigami Captains, he would've let it slide should he show a little disrespect. His lips curled up in satisfaction, since it seemed that there was no need for him to do so.
"I have come to report the success of the mission I was entrusted with, Your Majesty. Kurosaki Ichigo has decided to join the Wandenreich on his own will, under the condition that he be allowed to ask a few questions concerning our future actions, which are to be answered truthfully. I have kept my words as promised, Your Majesty." Giselle reported with a hint of pride, which made Ichigo roll his eyes. 'It's not like I was that hard to convince...'
Yhwach eyed the orange-haired teen who fit the Wandenreich uniform perfectly in his eyes. Ichigo would most definitely make a fine addition to his ranks if he made sure of his loyalty, and from his earlier show of respect he would prove to be quite loyal too. And he wouldn't have ordered his Sternritter to bring him to Silbern if he wasn't sure of the chances.
"We meet at last, Kurosaki Ichigo, my son born to darkness. I am the emperor of the Wandenreich, father of the Quincy, Yhwach. If that is what you wish, I shall gladly grant your request. Even if you did not set the request as a condition to join the empire, I intended to have a conversation with you in the first place, considering how you seemed to be unaware of the information that would change your view on the Shinigami..." Yhwach closed his eyes, as he thought about the horrendous acts the Shinigami have done to his children. "We need not drag this matter any longer than necessary. I shall answer your questions without any deceptions, and I swear it on my honor as the Father of Quincy. Do you wish to keep the contents of this conversation personal?"
"No, Your Majesty. I do not mind their presence. My first question is, exactly who... no, what is the Soul King? What are your intentions concerning him?" Ichigo asked, thinking about the words that Urahara once said to Aizen. Urahara stated that the Soul King was the Linchpin, and how the world would collapse if he ceases to exist. If that was true, wouldn't anyone who intends to harm the Soul King ultimately cause their own downfall?
"Straight to the most important question, I see. It seems that you do possess the knowledge, that if anything were to happen to the Soul King the world will collapse?" Ichigo nodded to Yhwach's question, who had a thoughtful expression on his face. "You are correct about the matter. If the Soul King is killed or freed from his shackles, the world will return to its original state, where there were no boundaries dividing the world into three. The world without the fear of death. But it wouldn't last forever..."
Yhwach couldn't hold his grimace as he thought about his original goals. They were the ones of a conqueror, not a ruler. What was the meaning of conquering the world, to have it collapse afterwards?
"What do you mean by 'freed from his shackles', Your Majesty?" Ichigo still remembered some of the words that Aizen said to Urahara, something along the lines of 'How could you stand to serve under such an abomination?', or how 'A victor should speak not of the world as it is, but of the world as it should rightfully be', which he hadn't thought about that deeply during that time. Would he finally get the answers to why exactly Aizen wanted to replace the Soul King that desperately?
"The Soul King... He was a god, betrayed by the former Five Nobility of the Soul Society, currently four, as the Shiba were on rocky grounds ever since they became involved with what they call 'Ryoka', and was finally removed after Shiba Isshin went MIA. And yes, he is your very own birth father."
Ichigo gasped at the newfound information about his family, this time his father. He did know that his father was a Captain when he served in the Gotei 13, but he didn't know that his surname was Shiba. Did that mean he was actually related to Shiba Ganju, or Kukaku on that matter? The thought of being related to Ganju was quite disconcerting to him, but he wished that he could've gotten to know Kukaku better. He now understood why some of the Shinigami commented about his resemblance to the deceased Lieutenant of the 13th Division, Shiba Kaien. They were actually related through blood, so it was hardly surprising if he thought about it.
"The Soul King was born in the world before it was properly formed, when everything was in chaos. He's the father of all beings, be it Quincy, Shinigami, or even the ones you know as Fullbringers. He was an almighty being, who established order in the world by giving the world the circulation of reishi, who took up the mantle of the protector of the world... only to be betrayed by the Five Nobility," said Yhwach, upholding his impassive expression.
Ichigo wasn't sure of what to make of it, and glanced at Giselle and Jugram. He could tell that they had heard of this before, from the indifference in their expressions.
"As you already know, we Quincy completely obliterate the Hollow's soul instead of purifying them like the Shinigami do. But originally, it was the power of the Soul King. When he protected the humans and souls by destroying the Hollows, the balance started to crumble, slowly leading the world to its inevitable destruction. It was then, that the founders of the Five nobility came up with the idea of splitting the world into three parts, by sealing the Soul King as a linchpin to retain the balance of the three worlds."
"Each had their own agenda. Kuchiki wanted more order in the world of chaos. Shihōin wanted more circulation in the stagnant world, thus ultimately yearning for the separation of life and death. Shiba pitied the poor souls who became Hollows only to be obliterated, and wanted to help their souls by purifying them. Tsunayashiro..." At this point Yhwach gritted his teeth in fury. The accursed name always left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Tsunayashiro was the one who originally came up with the idea of sealing the Soul King, in order to use his powers for their own benefit. He was a backstabbing coward, afraid of the Soul King's almighty powers, even in his sealed state. They cut off the limbs, and ripped out the internal organs of the Soul King out of fear, that one day he would break free from their shackles and punish them... Tsunayashiro spread it all over the world afterwards. I wish to free him from his shackles, the never ending humiliation he has been subjected to. Do you see it now, Ichigo? I am the Father of Quincy, but I too, was born from one. The Soul King is my father, the God of Quincy, the All-father."
An uncomfortable silence fell upon the throne room, the moment Yhwach spoke of those words. Yhwach waited patiently for Ichigo to digest the information, which was followed by the two Sternritter.
"I see..." Ichigo actually understood the emperor to some degree. It made sense, that he wouldn't want to see his father being used like a mere tool, at the hand of their enemies no less. "So this feud between the Shinigami and our kind, started from what they did to the Soul King."
On the other hand, Ichigo also understood the Five Nobility's perspective. They wished to prevent the destruction of the world, and he could respect that somewhat. Tsunayashiro, he could not. Maybe that was why the emperor seemed to be neutral towards the other four?
"The very first sin the Shinigami committed to our kind is the sealing of our god, and using him to shape the world into their own vision. They became the enforcer of balance in the world they had shaped to fulfill their own tastes, and wanted us to stop protecting humans. Naturally, it did not end well," said Yhwach.
It was then, that a question suddenly struck Ichigo. "But how could they seal the Soul King, if he was the almighty being?"
"The Urahara," answered Yhwach, which caused Ichigo to blink in surprise. "The last of the Five Nobility, Urahara. The one who had a mind that could come up with the means to trap even an almighty being. That was how. His reason to participate in the act, was to test the limits of his capability, to see if he was capable of outsmarting an almighty being. There is only one lasting member of the line left, and you are already well acquainted with him."
If he was being honest, Ichigo wasn't really surprised that one of Urahara's ancestor had a hand in the sealing of the Soul King. The reasoning wasn't all that different from what Urahara Kisuke would've came up with, after all. When Urahara explained his reasons that lead to the creation of the Hogyoku, Ichigo didn't believe a word of it. He now knew that it ran in his blood.
"I will free the Soul King from his humiliating state, even if it means that I must put an end to my father's existence, with my own hands." Yhwach concluded.
"I understand your reasons, Your Majesty. But then, what was Aizen's reasons to turn his back on the Shinigami? To become a God? If being the Soul King means to be sealed as a linchpin that sustains the world, why would he want to..." Ichigo's eyes widened in realization, as he could finally piece everything together from what he had heard from Yhwach and Aizen himself.
The Soul King was the God of Quincy, sealed and mutilated by the very founders of the Shinigami. Aizen wanted to stand above all, in the heavens.
"He couldn't bear the thought of serving a Quincy, who had been split into pieces by his own predecessors." Ichigo whispered with the understanding of what kind of man Aizen Sōsuke truly was, a megalomaniac who could not accept to serve under 'such an abomination', to quote his words.
"You seemed to be much more perceptive than I had expected, based on the data we had in the Daten. For your unspoken question, I wished to return the world to its original state at first, when I decided to liberate my father. But I came to the realization after watching my children being slaughtered at the hands of the Shinigami during the first war, that I do not wish to see the world collapse, as it would mean the end for my children. No, the world will be sustained, even after we free the All-father. Did you know that there are currently three beings, who could replace the Soul King?" Yhwach asked, not really expecting Ichigo to come up with an answer. He was pleasantly surprised when he actually did.
"Aizen Sōsuke, and myself. Would it be right of me to presume that the last one would be yourself, Your Majesty?" Ichigo asked, almost certain that what he spoke was the truth.
"Yes, you're correct. I am quite pleased that you have decided to use your intelligence, instead of neglecting it. To replace the Soul King, one must be a transcendent being in order to sustain the weight of the three worlds. Aizen Sōsuke is already on the verge of becoming one, as the Hōgyoku granted his wish to overstep the boundary that divides Hollows and Shinigami. All he needs is a little push. Ichigo, you became one during the time when you used your sacrificial technique to defeat Aizen. Your unique heritage consisting of all three major aspects of the soul allows it. I, myself will become one once more when we commence with the war, as I am the Soul King's consciousness." Yhwach smirked when he started to reveal his real plan.
Ichigo wasn't sure if he should be offended at Yhwach's jab at his intelligence, but he shrugged it off, knowing that it was indeed the truth. Instead of saying anything, he patiently waited for Yhwach to finish talking.
"We shall grant Aizen Sōsuke's wish to replace the Soul King, but not as a being above all existence, not the way he wanted to become. He will be sealed as the new linchpin of the world, where the Shinigami will no longer be the enforcer of the balance. The Quincy will take the mantle of the protector of the world once more." As Yhwach concluded, Ichigo now knew that he could fully pledge his allegiance to the emperor. He could feel his Quincy Blood demanding him to free the Soul King from his eternal humiliation, from the moment he had learned the full truth.
"From this moment onward, I shall be yours to command, as it is my duty as a Quincy. I am deeply ashamed that I was unaware of my heritage to this day, and I shall prove my worth if only to atone for my ignorance." Ichigo didn't really know what he was saying since it came out naturally, influenced by his Quincy Blood.
He didn't realize it himself, but the two Sternritter and the emperor were quite surprised, when jagged lines of red ran through his body the moment he swore his loyalty. Yhwach understood that Ichigo's Quincy Blood awoke on its own, since he was in close contact with two of the Sternritter and the most powerful Quincy himself. It did save the trouble of restoring his powers, although it wasn't a difficult process. Taxing, yes, but not at all difficult. Yhwach only hoped that his Hollow side wouldn't emerge, since the two would most likely clash in a violent manner.
"Blut Arterie... But how?!" Giselle questioned in awe, knowing that it just wasn't possible for a Gemischt Quincy to use the Blut abilities without any kind of training. Only Echt Quincy were able to utilize the Blut naturally, and there was no exception to this. Not a single exception throughout the history of Quincy, which had just happened for the first time.
"Impossible... Being born between a Quincy and a Shinigami should make the child between them a Gemischt, not an Echt, especially when the Quincy was a Gemischt at the time of birth..." Jugram stared with confusion evident in his usually calm eyes. He had suspected Ichigo to be a strong Gemischt, possibly stronger than some Echt, but still a Gemischt.
"Rise, Kurosaki Ichigo. You show great promise, my son born to darkness. I can see that you shall achieve greatness with the proper guidance, and I intend to give you just that. The Blut technique, Blut Vene and Blut Arterie is an ability to reinforce our defense or offense, by channeling reishi through our veins. Normally, only an Echt Quincy can utilize it without learning it from another Quincy firsthand. You truly are unique, Ichigo... I have no doubt that you will prove yourself to be a great addition to the ranks of our Sternritter, and you shall be given seven days to learn the ways of the Quincy before the ceremony. Sternritter Gewelle, You will be teaching him in the arts of archery and Flugbildschritt." Yhwach gave out his orders, which was answered by Giselle in an instant.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Haschwalt." Yhwach addressed his most loyal and trusted subordinate.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Seeing how Ichigo used to wield his Zanpakutō as his main weapon for quite some time, he will need some help in honing his swordsmanship due to the time he spent outside of battle. Who better to entrust the task, than the best swordsman in our empire? In addition to swordsmanship, you shall be aiding his progress in the Blut, and his Reishi Manipulation," ordered Yhwach, with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
"His prowess in swordsmanship will be better than he ever was, when I am done with him, Your Majesty." Jugram took the order without any complaints, since he loved swordsmanship with all his being. If he could train a fellow sword wielder, he would never object to the idea.
"You shall be bestowed with your own Quincy Cross. Take this medal of Heiliges Silber, and pour your reiryoku into it. Do not worry, as your reiryoku has started to return when your dormant Quincy Blood became active. It will respond to the nature of your reiryoku, and form a fitting Quincy Cross for you to use." Yhwach said while holding out a medal about the size of an electric outlet, which surprised Giselle greatly. The emperor bestowing a Quincy Cross himself was the greatest honor a Sternritter could ever hope for, and there were only three Sternritter at the moment who held such Quincy Cross, one of them being Jugram.
Ichigo carefully took the medal into his hands and poured his reiryoku into it, while holding the medal in his fist. Controlling his reiryoku felt much more easier than before, when he didn't know about the Quincy side of his powers. He could place a bet that he would be able to learn Kidō without any problems, not that he had anyone to teach it.
The metal kept shifting its shape under Ichigo's fingers, eventually forming a cross connected to chains. When he opened his fists, Yhwach hummed in understanding, while Giselle seemed to be almost... drooling? Jugram seemed to be interested in what caused his Quincy Cross to take this particular shape.
Ichigo fingered his first and very own Quincy Cross with curiosity. It was a cross, it was vastly different from the one Uryū used. The major difference between them was the fact that Ichigo's Quincy cross was an inverted cross. The four ends were shaped like a crescent, although the tips were round instead of being sharp. There was a smaller sized cross with the same shape engraved in the center. The color of the inner cross was pitch black, while the outer cross was red. All in all, it wasn't really something traditional for the Quincy, but somehow Ichigo knew that this was right for him.
"I must say, you have formed quite a beautiful Quincy Cross. It is quite fitting for you, since it represents you rather well," commented Yhwach, receiving a curious gaze from Ichigo. "The form it takes is the result of your inner conflict between your determination, and your Quincy Blood, with some traces of your Hollow side. Your Quincy Blood considers itself unworthy to wield the holy powers due to the taint of the Hollow, but your determination to be acknowledged as a true Quincy made it bend to your will."
"The cross being inverted shows that while it thinks of its tainted self as unworthy, it has accepted the idea of wielding the power. The inner black cross represents your Shinigami powers, but you yourself decided to forgo that side of you. Alas, it is still a side of you that you were born with, so it has become dormant while balancing out the two opposite sides. The outer red cross is your Hollow side showing its current supremacy over the Shinigami side, but also shows that it is under the control of your Quincy side. If you did not have the Shinigami powers within you, your Hollow side would've eventually brought on your soul's death. But alas, your Shinigami side is acting as the middle ground between those two, so it will not come to that."
As Ichigo listened to Yhwach's explanation, he couldn't help but to grimace at the thought of still having his Inner Hollow within him. He would never openly admit the fact that a small part of him actually missed his Inner Hollow.
"I thought I would be finally free of that..." Ichigo muttered, when he saw a spark of red and black from his hand that held the Quincy Cross. Ichigo was about to ask on how to form a bow with reishi, when something inside him urged him to focus on his Quincy Cross.
He saw no harm in trying, so he concentrated his reiryoku on the cross. Unsurprisingly, nothing really happened at first. Ichigo wasn't disappointed, but the same something seemed to chastise him to try it again. This time Ichigo closed his eyes, and focused on pulling the reishi around him into a solid shape instead of bringing out the reiryoku within him, purely out of instinct. He felt some of his reiryoku reaching out, enveloping the forming concentration of reishi.
"Holy shit!" Giselle exclaimed, only to immediately cover her mouth in embarrassment of her outburst. She was surprised out of mind, that she even forgot about herself being in the presence of His Majesty for a moment. In her defense, her reaction was perfectly justified, since any other Sternritter would have reacted the same, save for a few.
Ichigo opened his eyes when he heard the shocked voice of Giselle, to find his very own Reishi weapon in his hand taking the form of a long bow. It had a red frame with spirals of black framing it, and had a menacing atmosphere around itself. Ichigo stared at it for a moment, unsure of the unusual feeling of holding a bow, rather than his Zanpakutō.
"Heilig Bogen... But, how?" Even Jugram seemed to be flabbergasted at Ichigo's progress, which was something he would've never thought to be possible. A Gemischt Quincy using Blut on his own without proper training, and now forming a Heilig Bogen on his own? It was almost like the word 'impossible' meant nothing to the orange-haired Quincy.
"Interesting..." Yhwach trailed off, intrigued at the whole situation. Ichigo was proving himself to be above any kind of expectations he held, and it was quite satisfying. "If you're capable of firing a Heilig Pfeil on your own, do take a shot at myself. You need not worry about injuring me."
When he heard the emperor's request, Ichigo nodded and brought up his bow, and concentrated on forming an arrow out of reishi. Ichigo himself was eager to know what he could do, even more than Yhwach. The fact that he had any kind of spiritual powers once more was more than enough to lift his mood. This time Ichigo actually heard a voice within him, a familiar voice he hadn't heard for more than a year and a half.
'Pull the reishi and compress it. This isn't about pulling out your reiryoku like Kidō, so your lack of control over your reiryoku due to your immense reserves won't matter at all. As much as awakening your Quincy powers helped on that department, your reserves are still too high for you to have perfect control over your reiryoku. When you're done with it, your reiryoku will coat it without you even trying.'
'Zangetsu?!'
'I will explain everything when you are asleep. For now, concentrate on the task Yhwach gave you. Your stance needs some adjustment. Open your feet and shoulders widely, with one of your feet facing your target. Also, loosen your grip on the bow. You're holding it with too much strength. Pull the string until it touches your face and align the arrow at your target.'
'It's not like I have any experience with a bow to know the stance...' Ichigo complained, which simply went ignored.
Giselle was almost drooling at the sight of Ichigo's somewhat awkward but acceptable stance. 'He really is HOT in that uniform...'
Ichigo felt the power pulsing through his fingers, as a solid rod of red formed in his hand, eagerly waiting to be released. Black sparks were shooting out from the rod, and red lines traced his veins, signalling that his Blut Arterie was active.
Yhwach realized that it wouldn't be wise for him to take Ichigo's Heilig Pfeil with only his Blut Vene active, when it was powered with Blut Arterie, but also coated with Hollow reiryoku. He was still a few steps away from recovering his full strength, and the Hollow reiryoku would hinder the progress he had made. Yhwach made the decision, which would've hurt his pride if it was a thousand years ago. But now, it only gave him immeasurable pride for his son's raw potential, one that could even surpass himself. He clenched his fist, spilling his own blood on the floor of the throne room. The blood stretched out in the form of jagged lines, into the shape of a circle around him.
"Blut Vene Anhaben."
When Yhwach muttered the words, the circle became a dome of blue barrier that protected him from any kind of outward attacks.
The barrier had formed exactly at the same time when Ichigo released his arrow, and a streak of red struck the barrier like lightning. The Hollow reiryoku was disintegrating the Blut of the Quincy Emperor, but it wasn't enough to destroy a Blut Vene Anhaben, which was immensely stronger compared to the average Blut Vene. As Ichigo's Heilig Pfeil dissolved into sparks of reishi, Yhwach had to grudgingly admit that it could've actually broke through his Blut Vene and injured him.
"I must admit that your Heilig Pfeil holds great advantage against your fellow Quincy," said Yhwach, causing Ichigo to scowl. He wasn't all that pleased with Yhwach's evaluation. What kind of Quincy needs advantage against his own? Ichigo only hoped that he wouldn't be rejected by the other Quincy because of it.
"Had you fired more than one Heilig Pfeil, I would've been forced to dodge them. But do not be disappointed in my words, Ichigo. You show great promise, and if given time to improve, you will become a powerful Quincy in your own right. Also, I give you the right to be called an Echt Quincy. Seeing how the Blut technique comes naturally to you like any other Echt, you are more than worthy to be called as such. The Kurosaki will stand proud as one of our own once more." At Yhwach's declaration, Ichigo was overjoyed. While he didn't know about exactly what the difference between Echt and Gemischt was, His Majesty's proud expression was more than enough to convince him that it was an honor.
"I am most grateful, Your Majesty." Ichigo bowed with gratitude, which brought out a grin from Yhwach.
"Before you retire to your new personal quarters which Haschwalt will show you, there is a matter of great importance that must be discussed." Ichigo was confused at first, but soon remembered his words earlier and nodded. "I am truly curious about what you wished to tell, or ask of me, Your Majesty."
"Yes... before we start our discussion, I will have to ask you to refrain from any outbursts before I am done with my tale. It is heavily involved with your mother, after all." Yhwach requested, causing Ichigo's eyes widen visibly. He easily understood why His Majesty would want him to keep his temper in check. Anything about his mother was a sensitive topic to him, even after all those years.
"There is an old Quincy folklore, the Kaiser Gesang. The sealed Quincy King shall regain his pulse after 900 years. Another 90 years and he shall regain his intellect. After 9 more years he shall regain his strength. After 9 more days, the Quincy King shall regain the world. It isn't just a folklore, but a prophecy. It was left by my own ability, when I fell into a millennia long slumber. A little after one more year, my strength will return to it's fullest, but there was an unforeseen event that occurred almost eight years ago. In the process of regaining my conscious my ability acted on its own, and forcibly ripped off all of the impure Quincies' strength to start the process of regaining my strength."
When Ichigo saw the grim expression on the emperor's face, added with the earlier warning, he knew that he wouldn't like what he was about to hear.
"Earlier on, your mother was infected by a pet project of Aizen Sōsuke, which should have caused her soul to kill herself. The exact method of how she sustained her life, I do not know. But she became a Gemischt, impure Quincy that day." Yhwach spoke in a somber tone, saddened from the way everything had to happen. At this point Ichigo knew where this story was heading.
"Eight years... I had wondered about why she would have died to a Hollow, one that wasn't even on the level of a Menos... I see." Ichigo stated, desperately trying to calm himself, from releasing his anger. He wouldn't show the lack of self-control now, not when the emperor asked him to keep his calm. If he had brought this up, it meant that he wanted to clear things up with him, so he needed to hear the full story.
Ever since learning that his mother was a Quincy, Ichigo couldn't understand why his mother had died to a Hollow like Grand Fisher. Grand Fisher was nowhere near powerful. Its trickery may prove to be a problem, since he had lost to Grand Fisher because of it, when he hadn't even learned his Zanpakutō's name. But he doubted that it had enough power to break through his mother's Blut Vene. As far as he knew, Uryū didn't know how to use Blut, and he was more than capable of easily destroying a Hollow under the level of a Menos. His mother was born as an Echt Quincy, so it was obvious that she could use the Blut, since the technique came naturally to Echt. If she had her powers back then, the Hollow would've never stood a chance.
But...
"So, it was unintentional," Ichigo muttered, causing Yhwach's eyes to widen, along with Jugram and Giselle. "It was unintentional. Also, if I were to blame someone, it would be the Shinigami. Ever since the Shinigami massacred the Quincy in the Human World, they should've been doing their job properly, seeing how they killed off the people who could defend themselves and other humans on their own. And before I even dare to blame you, it should be placed on the very reason of her death, Aizen Sōsuke. So I understand, Your Majesty."
While Ichigo calmly stated, he was actually directing his anger mostly to the Shinigami for neglecting their duty. He knew that his father was powerless at the time, and the Visoreds, or Urahara and Yoruichi-san were keeping a low profile since they were technically exiles. His Substitute Shinigami Badge could alert him when a Hollow appears nearby, so the Grand Fisher being an exception to their methods of tracking down Hollows was a ridiculous thought. If the designated Shinigami had done his job properly, his mother wouldn't have died despite losing her powers.
"Although I am quite grateful that you have taken that well, I'm afraid the next one will be much more harder to keep your calm..."
At this point Ichigo really didn't want to hear what would come next. He didn't want to hear something like the Shinigami had left his mother to die, just like Uryū's grandfather. Ichigo knew that if he heard anything like that, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from loathing the Shinigami as a whole.
"While I do not know of when the Hollow that consumed your mother's soul was purified..." said Yhwach, but Ichigo knew. It was his father that cut down Grand Fisher who had become an Arrancar. "Your mother's soul was found in one of the lower district of the Northern Rukongai, the 67th district to be precise. Apparently, she was found by the 12th Division."
"No..." Ichigo knew what was coming next. He knew it too well, and he wanted it to be nothing more than a lie.
"She was later confirmed to be a Quincy, who lost her powers, only after her soul was completely dissected..." Yhwach grimaced as he eyed his son's heartbroken expression, shedding tears of grievance.
Giselle knew all of this, as she had read the recently updated Daten of Kurosaki Ichigo. She silently vowed once more to kill those bastards of the 12th division in the most painful manner.
Jugram now understood exactly why His Majesty decided to recruit Kurosaki Ichigo. It would be more cruel to let him stay on the Shinigami's side, when they were hiding a secret on this caliber to him. He had no idea that there was more coming.
"The matter was revealed in a Captain's meeting, sometime after Aizen's defeat with the report of her death eight years ago. It was from a Shinigami who happened to be replacing the one who was originally stationed in Karakura Town at that time, as he was needed in Soul Society due to a personal matter. The reports stated that when he saw a Quincy, who were supposed to be wiped out a long time ago in his knowledge, he did not interfere. Instead of carrying out his duty, he merely observed the situation to see if he could take down both the Quincy and Hollow on his own. There was an explanation on how she seemed to be struck by an unknown attack when she was engaging the Hollow, and how she was about to be consumed by the Hollow. The Shinigami didn't interfere and let the Hollow consume her, for it would be more 'convenient' for him to purify the Hollow when it consumed all the Quincy at the scene, which includes you. He was going to wait until the Hollow was done consuming you, but he retreated quickly when he felt the reiatsu of another Hollow, which surpassed his own easily by tenfold."
Ichigo gritted his teeth in rage. He didn't give a damn about the Shinigami now. The Captains had known all of this! The Shinigami left both him and his mother to die, only because his mother was a Quincy!
"I think I know exactly what that other Hollow was, Your Majesty... So, was there a name... of this Shinigami?" Ichigo all but demanded the identity of this Shinigami, that left his mother to be consumed by a Hollow. It was because of him that she had to be dissected at the hands of the 12th Division in her afterlife, when she should've found the peace she rightfully deserved after finally being purified by her own husband.
"It was the 6th seat of the 11th Division at that time, which would be the current Lieutenant of the 6th Division. His name is Abarai Renji." Yhwach stated, waiting for the outburst that never came.
"I see..." Ichigo said, his voice not showing any trace of anger. "To think that I actually considered him as one of my friends, when he condoned my mother's death, and condemned her to a fate worse than death."
Somehow, Ichigo was actually keeping his cool, not submitting to the burning rage that was demanding to be released. Or more like compressing the rage inside him, waiting for the right time to fully release it. He didn't explode in rage nor did he lose control over his reiatsu. His reiatsu was actually calmer than ever.
For when one was truly furious, the rage would become a freezing numbness. Ichigo found thought that it was a lot more easier to keep his cool, after his Quincy Blood within him awakened. That didn't mean he wasn't burning in the insides, though.
Ichigo knew that he could never be able to see his 'friends' of the Soul Society in the same light as he once did, never again. If they tried to stand in his way, he was going to put them down, hard. If his friends dared to take their side, even after they hear about what they have done to his mother... then they were no friends of his. Ichigo wondered what his father would say when he learns about the sins of his once comrades. He sincerely hoped that he would come to his senses, and take his family's side.
"Now I can see why they distanced themselves from me. They didn't want to risk any chances of me finding out about the whole incident... If it was revealed in the Captain's meeting, would it be right for me to assume that every last one of the Captains were present, Your Majesty?" Ichigo asked with an icy edge evident in his voice. Giselle could easily see that Ichigo was trying hard to keep his boiling rage contained deep inside of him, and noted to herself to take him to a training ground to vent some of his anger.
"Yes, with the exception of the vacant seats of the 3rd, 5th and 9th Division, every Captain was present during the meeting. If you wish it, I shall place an order to leave the 12th Division Captain and Abarai Renji untouched, as they should be rightfully yours to deal with." Yhwach suggested, which Ichigo accepted gladly.
"I am most grateful at your generosity, Your Majesty."
Yhwach nodded and waved his hands in dismissal. "Nighttime is nearing, so I'm afraid this meeting has come to an end. Haschwalt, return to your duty after you show Ichigo his quarters. You are all dismissed. Welcome to the Wandenreich, Ichigo."
As they stood up to leave the throne room, Yhwach spoke once more, addressing the female Sternritter.
"Sternritter Gewelle, I was most impressed at how you carried out the mission with such efficiency. You shall be rewarded greatly in the near future."
"I, I am honored, Your Majesty!" Giselle almost squealed out with stars in her eyes. Ichigo inwardly thanked Giselle, as his fury which was barely being contained inside cooled down a little at the sight of her happiness. It was really obvious that Giselle worshiped His Majesty with all her heart, and hearing such words from him would've meant a great deal to her.
'I think... I'll try to bury my anger inside to be released at the right time, and just feel happy for you at the moment.' Ichigo wondered if Giselle knew just what kind of effect she had on him. It was actually scary to Ichigo, considering the fact that they had known each other for less than a day. It was his first actual crush, so everything he felt was something he had never experienced before, and it scared him to no end.
The three Quincy left the throne room deep in thought about different matters.
Giselle was in a chipper mood from receiving such praise from His Majesty, evident from the way her footsteps were almost skipping. But at the same time, she was worried about how Ichigo would react when he learned about her Schrift, added with the part of her personality she hadn't shown him yet.
Jugram was confused as hell with how Ichigo could use the Blut on his own, when he was born as a Gemischt, although his status was an Echt now since His Majesty gave him the right to be called one. But just how did he form a Heilig Bogen? Not even a day since Kurosaki Ichigo arrived at Silbern, and he was having a major headache because of him, even if the thought of how Ichigo would show progress as a Quincy intrigued him at the same time.
Ichigo's mind was in a relatively peaceful state compared to how it was earlier that day, even with all those unpleasant revelations. He now had a purpose and a goal, even if he also developed a stupid crush on a girl he met today. He looked forward to becoming a proper Quincy like his mother, and gaining the power to take his revenge. Yes, revenge sounded nice.
While each had different thoughts occupying their head, the same thought crossed their minds at some point. Their life in Silbern was going to become interesting.
I received a lot of positive reviews and PMs on the first chapter, and thank you all for the support.
There was a review stating that I was being quite rude and trans-phobic on the AN of the first chapter. I removed most of it and wrote an apology on the matter. I'll also be careful in my wording in the AN from now on.
I think I wrote the second chapter of the story in a fairly short amount of time, and I hope the quality isn't all that bad due to my hasty work. Especially when I'm not that confident in my writing in the first place. I'm grateful for you guys' reassuring words and all, but I know my work isn't all that great considering the fact that English is my second language.
Differences from the canon and this chapter.
1. Yhwach wasn't the good father of Quincy a thousand years ago, even in this story. He started to change his view after he saw how his children were slaughtered by the Shinigami during the war, and he has become a good emperor after he woke up from his sleep. A thousand years of solitary self-reflection is more than enough to change one's personality.
2. As many of you have noticed from Chapter 1, Giselle's personality will be different from the canon. She still has her sadistic streaks, but when I started to write this story Giselle was the only pairing I had in mind for Ichigo. I had to give certain events and changes to both of them to make it work. For example, even Giselle in this changed personality wouldn't have worked out with Ichigo if say, the Sternritter who was sent to recruit Ichigo was Bambietta. He won't be accepting of Giselle's negative side without that moment where she left an extremely positive impression to Ichigo, in my opinion.
3. Ichigo is the first Echt Quincy of the new Kurosaki line in this story. Ichigo used his Blut Vene on his own after being exposed to Quilge's 'The Jail', so he obviously qualifies as an Echt since only Echt can use the Blut without training it. I can only guess that he needed to come in contact with an Echt to wake his Quincy side, if Uryū didn't have such effect on him. So Giselle, Haschwalt, and Yhwach himself? Definitely enough to wake it up.
4. As far as I know, the TYBW arc starts a month after the end of Lost Agent arc. But I'm giving a gap of a year between them. If you think of the day Auswählen stole Masaki and Katagiri's powers as the start of Yhwach's 9 years of regaining his strength, Masaki died 6 years before the start of canon, meaning it is past 7 years at the point when Ichigo confronts Grand Fisher at the graveyard, and he loses his powers in early November. Lost Agent Arc starts 17 months after, which is 8 years and 11 months past the point, so the TYBW arc is supposed to happen in June. Can I build a good enough relationship between Ichigo and the Sternritters in 1 month? I wasn't really sure so I decided to give them a full year. But don't worry, there will be time skips so it won't take too long for the war to start. Just think of Masaki's death happening a year late... I might be making everything a bit too convenient for me, but hey, what's the point in writing a AU fanfic if I don't take advantage of it?
Ichigo's Quincy Cross' motive is the Cross of Saint Peter. I'm not Christian, but I thought it would fit perfectly as Ichigo's Quincy Cross. Well, more like my imagination couldn't bring up something good enough, if I'm being truthful. My initial thoughts were on the kanji-like shape on Tensa Zangetsu's crossguard, but its similarity to the Hakenkreuz made me reconsider it. It actually was changed along with Tensa Zangetsu's blade when Ichigo gained his Fullbring-Bankai, and the only reason I can think of is... Oh well. Since everything involved with Quincy is in German, I really didn't want to bring that into this.
The Soul King part relies heavily on the information released in the novel Can't Fear Your Own World, and the Aizen part is how I interpreted the character. He was an egoistical megalomaniac, so when he found out the truth of the Soul King the thought would've bothered him until he decided to 'Stand in the heavens'.
Urahara being one of the Five Nobility came out from one of my suspicions about Urahara Kisuke. Kisuke was friends with Yoruichi since they were kids, and the Shihōin actually took care of him. If you know how the Four Nobility is treated in canon, Kisuke has to be a noble or it makes no sense with Yoruichi being called a princess and all. Renji couldn't even hang out with Rukia like he used to when they were in the academy after she was adopted into the Kuchiki. So I thought, maybe one of the Five's identity isn't a public knowledge, and only known between the other Four Nobility.
Since the founders of the Five Nobility actually trapped the supposed almighty Soul King, if one of them had a mind on the level of Kisuke it actually maybe have been possible. And Kisuke's connection with the Royal Guards is quite suspicious if you read the comic again...
So Urahara being one of the Five Nobility isn't really all that far-fetched, although the possibility became a lot lower with the involvement of Tsunayashiro.
Q. What's with this Quincy Blood shit?
A. It actually made Ichigo kill the Soul King in canon, so I thought it was an acceptable reason. Convenient, but acceptable.
Q. Why did you make Renji the bad guy?
A. I wanted it to be someone who was friendly with Ichigo to push Ichigo's hatred towards the Shinigami, as it really won't give as much impact as I would've wanted if it was just a random Shinigami. Rukia is a definite no, since she showed no sign of knowing Karakura Town before the start of canon(I'm not going to deny that I'm afraid of being flamed if I actually did it). Other than that, Ichigo's friendship is mostly with the Visoreds and Captains or maybe Ikkaku. Ikkaku didn't seem like the guy to do something like that, based on his first appearance at the Soul Society Arc. Renji on the other hand actually left a bad impression when he came to retrieve Rukia. Byakuya was a noble who felt obliged to uphold the law as a part of the Four Nobility, and it was involved with Hisana. Renji was an asshole the whole time, and the way he lost to Ichigo and begged him to save Rukia didn't impress me a bit. So Renji was chosen out of necessity, and the fact that he was the only one I wouldn't lose my sleep if I actually made him the bad guy. Sorry Renji fans, but at least he got a nice role in the TYBW arc and married Rukia in the canon right? I think he already got more than he really deserved. Seriously, Rukia huh...
Since every Quincy skill is named in German in the Wandenreich, Flugbildschritt is what I will call Hirenkyaku for now. Obviously I don't know German so I used the translator, but so does Kubo... I don't think there'll be any problems with that. Mayuri actually suggests that only Ryūken and Uryū uses the term Hirenkyaku after all.
Heiliges Silber : Holy Silver. As I said. I don't know German, so every non-canon term written in German is from the translator.
I won't bother with the terms that were in the canon.