I really need to plan this arc out better. So, I'll only write this chapter and work on plans for the rest. I'm working on this now because it's been a while since I updated. Enjoy! ;)

37

When the pillar-like transport landed, Ichigo lost his footing and fell onto his back, hitting his head on the hard flooring. White and black spots entered his vision. Ichigo slowly sat up while rubbing his head, a hiss passing his teeth. He blinked to clear his sight and looked at the royal guard. The big guy with the beads grinned as the door opened.

"Welcome to the Soul Palace, Ichigo Kurosaki."

Tenebris left the Soul Society by entering a forest far out in the Rukongai. It was a thick, dark forest that many Hollows used to break into and devour the poor souls that the Shinigami never bothered to protect. This forest bypassed the furthest district, so one never came out this far.

The dragon hollow of darkness had searched for this forest for hours. It was the only one she could use as a gateway to and from the World of Darkness. Sure, she could have left for the Dark Forest in Karakura Town, but she didn't see the point in going through two different worlds when she could just go through the Soul Society. However, right now, she felt like scolding herself for not using a void to go to the land of the living.

As Tenebris entered the forest, fog surrounded her like thick smoke. The journey to the World of Darkness took a minute, stepping into a night-filled forest surrounded by char-colored trees and grass. There wasn't much color in this world - the most vibrant came from the red crescent moon high above.

Looking around, Tenebris knew she was in her territory but not her base. So, she began to make her way to Crystal Lake, set by the foot of the mountain leading into Stone Wolf's territory.

When Tenebris got to her camp, she saw many different animals and creatures roaming around. One of them noticed her and approached. It was the water phoenix, Aqua Feather.

"Darkness, what brings you back so soon? Did something happen in your assigned world?" she asked with concern.

Tenerbis, AKA Darkness, nodded. "You could say that. I need to find information and possible prophecy on a man named Yhwach. He attacked Hueco Mundo and Soul Society, killing many souls and disrupting the balance."

Aqua Feather flinched at the news. "That's not good. Well, I'll leave you to it. Tell Night Seer I said hi." The phoenix walked away after that, heading toward the lake. Darkness gave her farewell before trotting toward the edge of her camp, where she found a giant hollow tree. When she entered, she found a reigel-looking owl with a long neck, dark red and black feathers, and eyes that appeared invisible or mirror-like. A book sat within his wings as he wrote within with one of his feathers. A prophecy in the making.

Darkness left him alone, deciding to check out the Books of Life first. This part of the Tree of Knowledge contains information on humans and creatures living outside the void; however, only those who chose to walk a dark path. Since Yhwach wanted to destroy the world, Darkness would find his book here.

Ichigo was shown around the grand place. It was beautiful, and it almost matched how he pictured Heaven. He was brought to a healing hot spring first, even if he didn't need it. He came out of the battle with the least amount of injury. But it was relaxing nonetheless.

By the end of the relaxing hot spring, Renji was up and about. Ichigo thought Rukia would be up first since she was awake when he visited her in the 4th division. Not that Ichigo wasn't glad to see Renji healthy - he was.

The two bright-colored-haired males were led to get food to restore their spiritual energy. It was shocking to see Kirio Hikifune go from being heavy to slim. She explained that she used her reiatsu while cooking so the food could help Ichigo and Renji regain their energy.

Now, the two were at Oetsu Nimaiya's Palace. Ichigo doesn't remember seeing the man when the royal guard came to pick him and the injured up from the Soul Society. Nimaiya was a dark-skinned man with thick, black, curly hair shaved and dyed green on the sides of his head.

Nimaiya led them inside his hut, where they met many women. Ichigo thought the man was a playboy, but he found that the women were Zanpakuto spirits.

'So this is where I'll learn Muramasa's Bankai,' Ichigo thought.

"Kurosaki, let me see Muramasa," Nimaiya requested, holding out his hand.

Ichigo paused but reluctantly handed over the sword strapped to his right hip. The man examined it for a second, flicking the blade thoughtfully.

Nimaiya hummed, "Let me see Zangetsu." Ichigo handed both blades. The man studied the two coal-colored swords before saying, "I see you understand what a Zanpakuto is, but you're not seeing Muramasa as the same as Zangetsu. Is it because Muramasa belonged to someone else originally?"

"Well, I guess? I accepted Muramasa into my soul, but he wasn't created by me," said Ichigo, scratching his head.

"Is this the same with Kikoo?" Ichigo nodded. "That is your problem." Nimaiya snapped Muramasa in half, shocking Renji and Ichigo.

"Hey, why'd you do that?" Renji demanded.

"I did that because for Kurosaki to truly accept Muramasa into his soul, he will need to reforge the Zanpakuto."

"But I thought that you need to reforge a Bankai. There was nothing wrong with Muramasa," said Ichigo, gritting his teeth.

"This Zanpakuto isn't your sword. So, we'll have to fix that. Now, you two, come with me." Nimaiya began walking with Ichigo and Renji behind him.

They were led to a door and were gestured to go in. Ichigo and Renji walked in, not suspecting anything. That was their first mistake. When they walked in, they quickly realized there was no floor. They fell and landed on the hard, cold ground below. Their second mistake was not noticing the army of Asauchi before them. The white beings surrounded them and gave off hostility.

The Asauchi attacked, but they went after Renji more than Ichigo. This confused the orange-haired shinigami hybrid. "Why are they attacking us?" he asked, dodging a tackle.

"They are angry at how you treat your Zanpakuto. You understand what a Zanpakuto is to you, Kurosaki, but you couldn't accept the others.

"But they were made by someone else's soul!" Ichigo exclaimed, dodging another attack.

"But the moment you accepted them as your own, the former welder lost their rights to them. Come on, surely you can understand what this means," said Nimaiya, who watched the two younger shinigami with a grin.

"He's not wrong," said Zangetsu. "It's not hard to understand at all."

'Yet, I feel you're not going to tell me,' Ichigo thought as he continued to dodge.

"Just stop being an idiot and accept that Muramasa and Kikoo are a part of you now," said Shiro with an eye-roll.

'But haven't I?'

"No." Both Zangetus said in unison.

It took hours for Darkness to find what she was looking for. She looked in the human section under the Y category. She was shocked at the amount of names starting with that letter, and it didn't help that some of those names were repeated. Thankfully, Yhwach was a name used once, making Darkness wonder what it meant.*

Shaking those thoughts from her head, Darkness began reading the thickest tome she'd seen in a while.

"'Around 1,200 years ago, Yhwach was born from a young woman named Miriam and the Soul King,'" Darkness paused, her red eyes widening at what she read. "What the heck? Is the guy Jesus or something?" She vigorously shook her head and body. "I know someone just got ticked off at me for saying that," she muttered before continuing.

"'The day he was born, Yhwach couldn't see, hear, speak, or even move.' Well, that sucks. 'Despite this, he wasn't afraid. Even if he could cry, he wouldn't because Yhwach knew he would continue living.' How does a baby know that? 'The people around him treated Yhwach with great reverence because everyone who touched Yhwach found they gradually gained something they lacked. This occurred because Yhwach possessed the power to share his own soul.' That's not creepy or anything. 'Anyone who touched him would gain a fragment of his soul, and those fragments healed the wounds which their own souls could not. At the same time, as their wounds slowly healed, the various aspects of each person were imprinted upon the fragments of Yhwach's soul, which they received until those fragments returned to Yhwach at the moment of their death. Even though none who touched Yhwach lived much longer, the people continued to gather around him. As he regained the fragments of his soul he shared, Yhach's body began to function. In time, when his deaf ears became able to hear, Yhwach realized the people called him by the name Yhwach. He understood this was the name of the God they worshiped, but he chose to take it as his own.' Is that what the name means?"

Darkness kept on reading, learning all she could about Yhwach's history. Yhwach had learned how to make Quincies stronger by engraving a letter into the soul fragment, giving him a deeper connection. His own soul was also given the letter A for the All Mighty. This is where Darkness learned how Yhwach could see into future events.

Darkness read how Yhwach created armies, taking over different countries and then wanting to conquer the Soul Society. Yhwach fought with the Soul Society but lost, being known as The Sealed King. It was here Darkness found the strange song about The Sealed King.

"'After 900 years of being sealed, he will regain his pulse; after another 90, he will regain his intellect; and he will absorb the power of every impure Quincy to make their abilities his own, regaining his strength after nine more years.'"

Before Tenebris could continue reading Yhwach's life, Night Seer walked and spoke, startling the Dragon of Darkness. "I saw you come in, Dark Dragon. Was there something you need?" His deep voice cracked with age and wisdom.

Darkness sighed while placing a paw over her heart. "Make a sound when you come in." She shook herself. "Yes, I need your help. Do you know of any prophecies on the man known as Ywach?"

TBC

*I looked up the name and found out. Yhwach is a variation of Yhwh, the Hebrew name for God in the Old Testament. Knowing Yhwach's history, this makes sense since he was seen as a god.

Now, I need to figure out how Ichigo will return to the living world and talk to Isshin. I have an idea, but I'm not sure I'll use it. Since Ichigo can't accept Muramasa and Kikoo as one with his soul as he does with Zangetsu, I figured Isshin's story about White would help him realize that just because they weren't a part of him doesn't mean they can't.

What do you think? :(

Shiro: It might be your only option.

Enj/Dark: Thanks. -_-

Ichigo: It's not a bad idea, but I agree you should plan the story better.

Enj/Dark: Yeah, with the anime back, I could watch that to help me figure out what to do.

Shiro: Great idea! Sadly, I'm not in the anime much. :(

Ichigo: Please review!