I didn't realize that the strong language in the previous chapter would elevate the rating of this fic to M. It has been fixed now, and I apologize to those who didn't expect it.
Sitting in his room on a tranquil day in Karakura, Isshin was focused on reading a medical document when he was abruptly taken aback by a surge of powerful reiatsu. His instincts kicked in as he tried to make sense of the situation. The reiatsu he sensed was unmistakably his son's, Ichigo.
However, it couldn't be right. After the decisive war years ago, Ichigo had sacrificed his spiritual powers, leaving the world of Soul Reapers behind. The unexpected discovery left Isshin puzzled, and he couldn't help but wonder if something extraordinary was about to unfold.
Feeling a mix of concern and excitement, Isshin decided to close his clinic temporarily and swiftly returned to his room to ensure the safety of his gigai. The sudden appearance of Ichigo's reiatsu perplexed him, leaving him with countless questions. How could Ichigo have regained his powers? What events had unfolded to lead to this moment?
Leaving no room for hesitation, Isshin followed his instincts, determined to find his son and understand the extraordinary circumstances surrounding this enigmatic resurgence.
As he drew nearer to the powerful reiatsu, Isshin suddenly felt a firm grip on his arm, pulling him to a stop. His instincts flared up, ready for a potential confrontation, but when he turned to see who had stopped him, he was met with a familiar face.
"Urahara?" Isshin's eyes widened with surprise and relief. Urahara wore an amused expression, and Yoruichi rested on his shoulder in her black cat form. He noticed the mysterious coat Urahara was wearing, likely to conceal his spiritual presence. "What's happening, Urahara? Is that really Ichigo's reiatsu?" Isshin's mind was filled with questions, eager to understand the enigmatic resurgence of his son's powers.
Urahara opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say a word, another voice interjected.
"Yeah, we should talk to Urahara. He's the best person to help us with this."
Isshin's eyes widened as he turned toward the source of the voice. There was no mistaking it; it was Ichigo's voice. His heart leaped with a mix of shock and joy, realizing that his son had somehow regained his powers.
Isshin's gaze followed Ichigo's movement as he shot up into the sky, probably making his way to Urahara's shop. "Alright, what's the deal here, Urahara?" Isshin asked, eager for answers.
"It appears that Ichigo is most likely from a future that has been destroyed," Urahara explained, his tone calm and collected.
Isshin's eyes widened with a mix of shock and worry, his Captain instincts kicking in. "Tell me more," he pressed, wanting to comprehend the situation fully.
Urahara nodded, acknowledging Isshin's eagerness for answers. "We came here as soon as we sensed that reiatsu," he began, his voice steady.
"We observed Ichigo's actions, and during that time, we overheard him speaking to himself, though I suspect he was actually conversing with his Zanpakuto." Yoruichi chimed in, "And we managed to gather some valuable information." Isshin remained silent, patiently waiting for them to continue.
"Based on what we heard, there is a very high chance that Ichigo encountered an enemy who possesses the Hōgyoku," Urahara revealed, knowing that this revelation might only lead to more questions.
The revelation left the former captain of the 10th Division agape, struggling to make sense of the implications of Ichigo's encounter. Urahara's amused smirk and Yoruichi's mischievous expression only added to Isshin's frustration, prompting him to close his mouth and eyes to collect his thoughts. Massaging his temples, he eventually opened his eyes to look at Urahara and Yoruichi. "You both seem far too relaxed given the seriousness of this situation," he pointed out, feeling exasperated by their nonchalant demeanor.
"No, I understand that this is indeed a grave situation, but I don't think it's something we need to worry too much about," Urahara said casually, despite the gravity of the situation.
Isshin arched an eyebrow, perplexed by Urahara's apparent calmness. "Does that mean you have a plan for this?" Isshin inquired, hoping for some guidance.
Urahara's chuckle was far from reassuring as he replied, "Nope!"
Isshin was taken aback by Urahara's response, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. He glanced at Yoruichi, hoping for some insight, but the black cat remained calm and seemingly amused by his surprise.
"Don't worry, Isshin," Yoruichi reassured him, waggling her tail playfully. "Urahara may not be insane, at least not yet, but what he said is true. I doubt this situation would be as bad as with Aizen."
Despite her words of comfort, Isshin couldn't shake off his wariness. While it might not be as dire as facing Aizen, the presence of the Hōgyoku still posed a significant threat.
Isshin's concern was evident as he looked to Urahara for reassurance. "You won't make Ichigo use the Final Getsuga Tenshō again, will you?" Urahara's gaze met his, and he shook his head firmly.
"No, we won't repeat the same mistake," Urahara said, his voice resolute. "Back then, we had no other choice. This time is a different case."
"And why is that?" Isshin didn't want to doubt his old friend, but he couldn't shake the memories of the past, the efforts it took to stop an enemy with the Hōgyoku. Even with all their preparations, it had almost ended in failure. While he understood that Aizen was an exceptional foe, the gravity of the situation made him wary of any potential solutions.
Urahara and Yoruichi shared a quick glance before addressing Isshin's concern. " Isshin, try to sense your son's reiryoku, or more precisely, his residual reiryoku," Yoruichi suggested.
Isshin hesitated for a moment before closing his eyes and reaching out with his senses. He immediately felt Ichigo's powerful reiatsu emanating from Urahara's shop. But as he focused on the residual reiryoku, he noticed a peculiar pattern. "Are you noticing that they are moving somewhere?" Urahara pointed out, and Isshin hesitantly nodded. He could sense Ichigo's residual reiryoku, faint but distinct, leading in a particular direction.
Isshin's senses followed the trail of Ichigo's residual reiryoku, and to his surprise, it led to a location where he sensed the familiar reiatsu of Orihime, Ishida, Chad, and... Ichigo? His eyes shot open, and he quickly turned his gaze back and forth between Urahara's shop, where he still sensed his son's massive reiatsu, and the location where he felt Ichigo's reiatsu with his friends. He tried to sense it again to be sure, and though faint, it was unmistakably Ichigo's reiatsu, but different from the one at the shop. Confusion swirled within him, and he looked back at Urahara and Yoruichi, who wore smug smiles.
"Time travel?" Isshin whispered, almost in disbelief. Both Urahara and Yoruichi nodded in unison, confirming his suspicion. "I remember you mentioning that before, but... two Ichigo?" Isshin's mind was still trying to grasp the idea of two versions of his son existing simultaneously. When his old friend had told him that Ichigo, who had regained his powers, was from the future, he didn't expect the future Ichigo to remain separate from his current self.
"Come on, Isshin, this is your son we're talking about! You shouldn't be surprised that he's capable of something like this,"Yoruichi teased, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"That's true," Isshin conceded with a fond smile, acknowledging Ichigo's penchant for defying expectations.
"Do you now understand why this situation isn't something we need to worry too much about?" Urahara said smugly, knowing that with Ichigo's resourcefulness and determination, they were in good hands. Isshin could only nod, realizing that with two Ichigos, the odds might be stacked in their favor. "Even if the enemy possesses the Hōgyoku, I have a feeling they will figure things out in their own Ichigo way," Urahara added with confidence.
"So what's the plan now?" Isshin asked, ready to lend a hand. "I will greet our visitor from the future, and you should inform your other son and his friends about the circumstances," Urahara replied. Isshin nodded, focusing on sensing Ichigo and his friends' reiatsu as they headed towards Urahara's shop. He set out to meet them before they reached their destination. It wasn't long before he encountered Ichigo, Orihime, Uryuu, and Chad, knowing that he needed to share the extraordinary events that had occurred.
"This reiatsu," Ichigo noted, sensing his father's presence despite the distortion. He turned to his friends with a puzzled expression. "Is that goat face in front of us?"
Isshin was surprised that Ichigo could perceive him, and the others listened with curiosity.
"You can see him, Ichigo?" Chad asked.
"Kinda, but it's hazy, like trying to see through fog," Ichigo replied, attempting to describe the sensation.
Ishida inquired, "How did you know it's your father then?"
Ichigo paused, searching for the right words. "I can't see clearly, but I feel it's him somehow."
Understanding that Ichigo might be unable to explain the intricacies of sensing his father's reiatsu, his friends didn't push for further details. "Isshin-san, do you feel that reiatsu? It's very similar to Ichigo's," Orihime politely inquired.
Isshin smiled, eager to witness their reactions to the revelation. "Of course, and about that..." he began, preparing to share the extraordinary events that had transpired.
However, a sudden disturbance in Ichigo's reiatsu from Urahara's shop brought their conversation to a halt. It shifted from its typical state to something heavy and subdued, engulfing them in an overwhelming feeling of melancholy and sadness. However, before they could fully comprehend what was happening, Ichigo's reiatsu changed again, transforming into an intense fiery burning anger that emitted powerful waves.
The abrupt emotional changes left them bewildered, and they exchanged worried glances, unsure of what had caused such a dramatic shift. Isshin's eyes flicked toward Urahara's shop, his worry growing for his future son and what could have caused such emotional turmoil.
"What the heck is that?" Ichigo cursed, mirroring his father's concern. "It's not just me who feels it, right?"
Orihime shook her head, her expression filled with worry.
"We all felt it, Ichigo," Chad confirmed.
"Whatever happened, it can't be good," Ishida added, turning his gaze to Isshin. "Right now, what is that?" he inquired, seeking answers from the elder Kurosaki.
"I wish I had all the answers," Isshin admitted with a hint of regret, "but we need to get to Urahara's shop for more clarity." Ichigo and the others nodded, trusting in Isshin's guidance. As they made their way, Isshin shared what he knew about the Hōgyoku, the enigma of time travel, and the presence of two Ichigos. The information filled them with wonder and surprise, as they struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the situation they were now a part of.
As the word "Hōgyoku" was uttered, the atmosphere grew tense, and Ichigo's expression darkened with the burden of past encounters. His friends shared his unease, understanding the significance of the artifact.
"If it affects Ichigo's reiatsu like that, whatever happened in the future must be terrible," Chad's somber remark weighed on their minds.
"At least we now have a possible explanation for why Ichigo regained his powers so suddenly," Ishida pointed out with his usual analytical approach.
Isshin nodded in agreement, explaining, "Ichigo is currently absorbing the residual reiryoku left by his future self."
Orihime, grasping the concept, added, "Like how Ishida absorbs reishi?"
What Orihime said sparked a shared realization among the group. Ishida blinked a few times, contemplating the comparison. "I suppose there might be some similarities, but I believe there are differences between what a Quincy does and whatever Ichigo is doing right now," Ishida explained, clarifying his thoughts.
Ichigo's eyes lit up with hope, and he asked, "So, does that mean I just need to wait for my powers to fully recover?"
Ishida nodded, "That's very likely, but I can't say for certain how long it will take. It might depend on various factors."
"I see," Ichigo said softly, a glimmer of relief evident in his eyes. "That's good to know."
As they continued moving, Ishhin observed his son closely, noting the determination in his expression. He wondered if it was the right time to reveal the secret of his mother's lineage, but there wasn't enough time to decide as they arrived at Urahara's shop. (Maybe after knowing what happens in the future,) he thought, deciding to wait for a more suitable moment to share the truth with his son.