Warning: Some swearing ahead


It took some time, but Ichigo managed to slowly piece together the recent memories, each revelation hitting him with varying degrees of shock. The truth about the magical girl and the immense power of Walpurgisnacht, the colossal witch, lingered in his mind. Homura's time manipulation abilities were difficult to grasp, yet they were integral to their plan. "And then during our fight against... what is its name again?" Ichigo pondered aloud, trying to recall the precise details of the battle.

(Walpurgisnacht,) Zangetsu supplied.

"Yeah, then during the fight, I remember some... memories," Ichigo added grimly, his mind unwilling to delve too deep into those painful recollections.

(Some nasty memories they are,) his hollow chimed in, acknowledging the weight of those dark moments.

Setting aside those haunting memories, Ichigo resolved to press forward. "After that, I go berserk, isn't it?" His hollow huffed as confirmation. "What happened?" Ichigo asked worriedly, wondering what his hollow had done with his body.

(You see, King, turns out that bastard is more than we thought,) his hollow replied, a hint of helplessness in its voice.

A sense of foreboding washed over Ichigo as he probed further, "What do you mean?"

The hollow hesitated before admitting, (After I tore that bitch apart, it started changing form.)

Ichigo's mind raced, trying to envision what form could provoke such a reaction from his hollow. And then he heard the revelation that left him stunned, (It turns into a fucking giant Hōgyoku.)

"...A what?" Ichigo's voice trembled with disbelief, struggling to process the gravity of the revelation.

(As I said, that bitch turned into a fucking Hōgyoku,) his hollow responded, its frustration with the enemy evident in its tone.

(Shiro, let Ichigo take a moment to sink in such knowledge,) the old man Zangetsu intervened, sensing Ichigo's inner turmoil.

"But- That's impossible! It can't be!" Ichigo helplessly denied, his mind rejecting the notion. He didn't want to believe what he had just heard, for the implications of such a transformation were beyond comprehension.

(Take a deep breath, Ichigo. Calm yourself.) Zangetsu's soothing voice acted as an anchor, helping Ichigo regain some composure.

"Are you sure it's a Hōgyoku?" he asked once more, seeking reassurance.

(I saw it with my own eyes, King. I mean, technically, your eyes, but you get the point,) his hollow confirmed.

(As Shiro said, its appearance and the energy it emanates leave no room for doubt.) Zangetsu's affirmation aligned with Shiro's observation, leaving Ichigo with little choice but to accept the startling truth.

As the gravity of the situation sank in, Ichigo could only mutter, "Well, shit."

(Well, shit indeed.) His hollow echoed his sentiments, recognizing the severity of the threat.

(From the beginning, that witch shouldn't have been in Karakura Town.) The old man chimed in, drawing from the information Homura had shared in Urahara's shop—that Walpurgisnacht always appeared in Mitakihara in her previous loops. Ichigo's mind raced, recalling the truth of Homura's words, and also the unmistakable surprise on her face when she witnessed the witch's descent in Karakura.

(Maybe she's a liar.) The hollow's words triggered a flash of anger within Ichigo, causing him to flinch. (I'm just saying!) the hollow hastily defended itself, sensing Ichigo's displeasure.

"I trust her, so don't you dare accuse her," Ichigo retorted coldly, his emotions tightly under control.

(Tch.) His hollow grumbled but chose to obey, aware of the seriousness of Ichigo's trust in Homura.

The old man shook his head, witnessing the exchange. He had hoped Shiro would know better, considering the bond Ichigo shared with Homura, almost like a sister. Given the recent losses of Karin and Yuzu, he understood Ichigo's sensitivity towards any criticism directed at Homura.

(Then that must mean something different about that timeline.) Zangetsu decided to steer the conversation in a different direction, hoping to ease Ichigo's anger. (Didn't she admit that this is her first time interacting with a Shinigami?)

The question piqued Ichigo's curiosity, momentarily shifting his focus. "Yeah, she did say that, right?" Ichigo nodded, intrigued by this revelation. "And that's because everyone she knows is dead." A wince crossed his face as he mentioned the painful truth. "She wants to get away while waiting for her time travel to reset," Ichigo continued, trying to make sense of Homura's actions. He paused, deep in thought, before letting out a sigh.

(So many complexities.)

"Yeah, we should talk to Urahara. He's the best person to help us with this," Ichigo suggested, knowing that Urahara's wisdom and experience might shed light on the complexities of Homura's situation.

With a destination in mind, Ichigo remained unaware of the glare his hollow shot at the old man, silently demanding an explanation. Zangetsu met Shiro's intense gaze with a solemn look of acceptance, understanding the unspoken message.

Ichigo tapped into his reiatsu, propelling himself into the sky with incredible speed, hurtling towards Urahara's shop. It didn't take long for him to land gracefully at the shop's entrance. Upon arrival, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Jinta and Ururu, but what surprised him was the wariness and defensiveness in their expressions as they regarded him.

"Hoy, Jinta, are Sandal-Hat inside?" Ichigo inquired, trying to keep his tone casual.

The red-haired boy didn't respond immediately and instead asked back, "Why do you want to know?" Ichigo was taken aback by the level of suspicion in Jinta's question but quickly shook his head, realizing it wasn't the time to address it.

"What do you mean why? It's because..." Ichigo started to explain before cutting himself off, a sudden realization dawning upon him.

Knowing that the details of the previous timeline were unimportant at the moment, Ichigo realized that he and his friends needed to stall the witch until Homura's time reset cooldown finished.

(Finally noticed, King?) Shiro chimed in, sensing Ichigo's newfound realization.

(Why am I still here? Don't tell me-?!)

(Homura managed to use her power at the last minute.) The old man's reassuring voice broke through, calming Ichigo's mind from imagining the worst scenarios.

(I... I see. That's good.) Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that Shiro was glaring at Zangetsu once again.

(Wait, hold on, if Homura is successful, then why am I still here?) Ichigo's mind raced, trying to comprehend the implications of Homura's power. He had expected the timeline to be erased once she used her time travel ability.

(It seems her power would create a new branch instead of erasing the current timeline.) The old man's explanation provided some clarity.

(You mean...) Ichigo's voice wavered, not wanting to accept the truth.

(Sorry to break your bubble, King. That means the timeline where your sister dies still happens.) Shiro's words cut through the air, leaving Ichigo stunned by the harsh reality. His hollow's words echoed once more. Does she really lie? Ichigo's body slumped, feeling sheer despair engulf him.

Zangetsu quickly decided to intervene and mitigate the situation. (She herself didn't know exactly how her power worked, and we, who just heard it from her, are not experts either. It's our expectations that betrayed us.) The old man's explanation tried to bring some logic to the situation, but it was challenging for Ichigo to accept.

(Yeah... that's right.) Don't blame her, don't blame her, don't blame her. Ichigo repeated the mantra in his mind, understanding that blaming Homura was unjust. Nevertheless, the pain of realizing that his hopes to change his sisters' fate were crushed stung deeply.

A thought in his mind wondered if this was not Homura's fault, then who? It didn't take long for Ichigo to come to a grim realization. (Ah, of course,) he muttered, his voice laced with self-blame.

(Good job, old man!) his hollow sarcastic remark echoed inside him. Zangetsu looked perplexed and attempted to intervene again (Leave this to me.), but Shiro cut him off with frustration (Hey, King! I didn't know that you're a fucking hypocrite!) trying to grab Ichigo's attention.

(Did you forget what you said to that girl, or did you just suffer brain damage and lose your memory!?) his hollow's blunt words hit Ichigo hard, serving as a harsh reminder of the advice he had once given Homura.

Ichigo's heart ached as he recalled the moments he had spent with her, witnessing the fragility hidden beneath her stoic demeanor. Homura held herself responsible for the deaths of her friends, unable to forgive herself for perceived failures.

How many times had she faced the horrors of loss?

How many times had she been met with doubt and skepticism?

How many days had she borne the heavy burden of guilt, feeling utterly alone in her suffering?

As he compared his own pain to what Homura had endured, Ichigo couldn't help but feel inadequate. (I am pathetic, right?) He questioned his own struggles, recognizing how they paled in comparison to hers.

(No shit, but at least you're not blaming yourself now.) Shiro's frankness added a touch of dark humor to the conversation.

(If there's someone to blame, it's the Incubator for deceiving your sister and countless other girls into making contracts without revealing the full truth.) The old man's careful words attempted to shed light on the real culprit behind the tragedies. Ichigo's sorrow gradually morphed into a wave of burning anger as he thought about the manipulative creature that had taken advantage of Karin, Yuzu, and so many others.

(I am gonna make the Incubator pay.) Ichigo's determination burned fiercely within him.

(Damn right!) Shiro's agreement echoed his sentiment.

(We will, Ichigo, we will.) Zangetsu joined in, supporting Ichigo wholeheartedly.

Alright, so what does he need to do first? As much as he wanted to go after the Incubator right now, he knew it wouldn't be that simple. (Turns out you have a brain, King. Color me surprised.) Ichigo rolled his eyes at Shiro's remark but couldn't help but smile at the familiar banter they shared.

(Wait, if the timeline is not erased when Homura uses her power, doesn't that mean the others are still here?) Ichigo's mind raced with new possibilities.

His hollow chimed in with uncertainty (I'm not sure about that.)

Ichigo internally groaned, feeling exhausted from the weight of the situation. He took a deep breath, trying to remain composed (Explain.)

Instead of answering, his hollow shot a knowing glance at the old man (Are you gonna tell us what you did now, old man?)

Zangetsu sighed, and Ichigo could sense the desperation. He didn't like it. (Ichigo looks at the city. Do you notice something is wrong?) Ichigo didn't like where this was going but obeyed nevertheless. But before he did, he gave Jinta and Ururu an apologetic smile as they looked more defensive and careful than before.

(They must wonder why you suddenly became silent and why your reiatsu shifted from usual to confusion, then to despair, and finally to anger.) Ichigo silently agreed and honestly couldn't blame them. He wanted to explain, but there was a more urgent matter at hand.

Ichigo then turned around to face Karakura Town, carefully scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary. At first, he noticed nothing strange, but as he continued to observe, a subtle sense of unease started to build within him.

(There's nothing strange?) Ichigo replied, uncertainty evident in his voice.

(Exactly, Ichigo, nothing strange.) Zangetsu 's voice took on a somber tone as he continued, (It's as if the battle against Walpurgisnacht never even occurred.)

Ichigo's recollection of the fight was limited, but he found it hard to believe that such a formidable enemy could be defeated without leaving any traces behind. And then there was the Hōgyoku to consider.

(There is more that happened after I went berserk, right?) Ichigo's question hung in the air, his gut feeling telling him that the situation was far from resolved.

(Yes indeed, if what I did worked as I hoped, then we are now in the past.)

Ichigo's mind raced, trying to comprehend the enormity of the situation, while his hollow seemed intrigued (So you sent us back in time, old man?)

The old man's nod confirmed the hollow's suspicions, prompting a mischievous cackle (Hahaha! This is getting interesting!)

Zangetsu's expression turned serious as he added, (While I aimed to send us back in time, I can't say for certain how far back we've ended up. This venture carries unpredictability.)

(Wait, wait, wait! You can't just drop that bombshell and act like it's no big deal!) Ichigo's mind was in turmoil, demanding more answers, while his hollow found the situation amusing (He just did though.)

The old man nodded, acknowledging the valid concern (I can explain more, but I believe there's something else you'd rather do.)

(Like what?) Ichigo challenged, not fully convinced.

(Like prevent massive casualties among your allies by informing them about the power of Walpurgisnacht and the Hōgyoku.) The old man's words sent a chill down Ichigo's spine

(Massive casualties? What do you mean by that?!) His voice trembled, fearing the worst.

This time, Shiro and Zangetsu exchanged a knowing look. (After you went berserk, I could sense the Gotei 13 arrive to help defeat Walpurgisnacht,) the old man explained.

(They did?) Ichigo was taken aback by the news.

(With the amount of reiatsu that witch has, it would be more surprising if they didn't, King.) Shiro chimed in, reminding Ichigo of the overwhelming reiatsu emanating from the witch. He nodded, recalling the sheer power Walpurgisnacht possessed.

(I sensed their combined reiatsu during the battle,) the old man explained, referring to the Gotei 13's efforts.

(Yeah, it was a cool team-up, I guess.) Shiro shrugged nonchalantly.

(It was a valiant effort, but...) Zangetsu's voice grew somber, hinting at what followed. (But then, the witch transformed, and things got messy. They weren't prepared for that.) The old man's tone becomes more serious as he acknowledged the casualties the Gotei 13 suffered in the face of the witch's transformation.

Shiro seemed eager to elaborate, but the Zangetsu intervened with a gentle touch on his shoulder, signaling it was enough for the moment. The old man's expression conveyed a mixture of understanding and concern. (Do you grasp the situation now, Ichigo?)

Ichigo took a moment to absorb the information before replying, (Yes, thanks for filling me in.)

(You know, there's still a lot more to this story!) Shiro chimed in, excitedly waiting to share more.

(Maybe later...) Ichigo hesitated, not fully dismissing Shiro's curiosity but acknowledging that he needed time to process everything that had been revealed.

Ichigo took a glance at Karakura Town, feeling a mix of familiarity and strangeness. He smiled bitterly, realizing that this was the same place, yet it was not his Karakura Town anymore.

(Hey, Zangetsu, can you send me back to my timeline?) Ichigo's question was filled with hope, but the old man's response was solemn.

(I doubt it. Even if we could travel into the future, I honestly doubt we could return to your original timeline.) Zangetsu's answer was painful, yet Ichigo appreciated his honesty, knowing that false hope would only lead to more disappointment.

Ichigo's eyes grew distant as he came to terms with the possibility that he might never return to his timeline. This place resembled his home, but it was an echo of the past, a past that no longer existed. He couldn't help but wonder if this was all some surreal dream or an elaborate scheme by Aizen to mess with his mind. However, deep down, he knew this was real, and reality weighed heavily on his heart. (Now is not the time.) Ichigo forced himself to focus on the present, putting aside his inner turmoil to confront the situation head-on.

(If we are in the past before that witch's attack, I wonder...) Ichigo's mind buzzed with uncertainty as he considered the time they might have traveled to. He decided to search for his sisters' reiatsu, hoping it would provide some clarity. The relief he felt when sensing them safe and sound in their school was tempered by the knowledge that this was not his original timeline. Nevertheless, as he sensed the presence of many others he knew, Ichigo felt a spark of determination.

He understood that this might not change the outcome of the past, nor could he save those who were lost in his original timeline. But he couldn't ignore the responsibility to protect those he knew and cared for now. The past was unchangeable, but the present and future were not, and Ichigo was determined to make a difference.

Zangetsu's smile and Shiro's approval bolstered Ichigo's determination. (Any thoughts on what our next move should be?) he inquired, looking for their input.

(I believe seeking Urahara's counsel would be wise.) The old man's suggestion resonated with Ichigo, knowing that Urahara had dealt with complex situations before and might shed light on their current predicament.

Ichigo agreed, feeling that Urahara was the best person to help them. He turned his attention to Jinta and Ururu, who stood guardedly before him. As they saw the seriousness in Ichigo's expression and felt the intensity of his reiatsu, they couldn't help but flinch.

"You were curious why I asked about Sandal-Hats earlier, right? Well, it's because I need to talk to him about something important."