"Why?"
Yhwach turned his head back as he and Uryū were walking down the corridor that led to his throne room.
"Why what?"
"Why did you choose me and Kurosaki's younger sister as your successors?" Uryū asked the question that had been bothering him ever since the announcement was made.
"You think it strange?"
Uryū narrowed his eyes. "It seems to me that declaring newcomers such as me and Yuzu so suddenly, will only cause discord amongst your soldiers."
The maroon cloaked man let a tiny smirk grace his lips. Smart boy. "It pleases me that you are not such a fool as to accept this decision unquestioningly. However, your judgement is lacking, boy. The reason why I have chosen the two of you as my successors should be simple enough to deduce."
When Uryū stayed silent, he continued. "It would appear that you still do not see. Let me ask you this: Uryū Ishida, why do you still have life in you?"
As the young man with the glasses widened his eyes in realization, the progenitor spoke, "Judging by your expression, it seems you are quick to understand. Nine years ago, when I carried out my Auswählen, all living Gemischt Quincy breathed their last. All except you, Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu Kurosaki."
He fully turned around to face one of his successors. "You four are the only ones in all of history to have survived my Auswählen. This is why I refer to you four as the 'final Quincies to survive in this world.' There is something you all possess that surpasses even my own power. That... is why I chose to name you and my 'daughter' as my successors."
Yhwach then extended his hand, all while looking straight into the Sternritter's eyes. "Understand your place, Uryū. There is no need for doubt. You need only come with me."
Yhwach's smile only grew when the young man shook his hand.
"I understand completely, Your Majesty."
Uryū frowned. That was a couple of hours ago and he was still confused as to what his role was in all of this. His Majesty was definitely using Yuzu to make Ichigo lower his guard. As much as he hated that Yuzu was being used as bait, there was nothing he could do at the moment. As he continued to walk back to his living room, he passed Haschwalth's room.
"I heard the news." A female voice spoke. "About the announcement. It may be presumptuous of me to say this, but I feel you should speak to His Majesty about this matter."
"You are dissatisfied?" He heard the blonde man ask.
"Do you mean to say you do not feel dissatisfied, Mr. Haschwalth?" The female voice spoke.
"Perhaps you would not understand. This is His Majesty's will."
'His Majesty's will?' Uryū thought.
"Announcing his successors in that manner was certainly going to cause excessive unrest amongst the ranks. In which case, there can be only one conclusion, and His Majesty deliberately caused this unrest."
'What?' Uryū gasped. 'That man caused all of this... intentionally? To what end?'
"Unrest forces people to keep a close eye on one another." Haschwalth continued, momentarily glancing at the door. "And what is more, all of those eyes will be keenly focused upon Uryū Ishida and Yuzu Kurosaki. No matter who those people may be, no matter what power they possess or what views they may hold, with this announcement, they are no longer able to take action whatsoever. No path remains for that man and woman now, but to devote themselves entirely to serving His Majesty."
He then fully turned his attention towards the door, aware of a certain person eavesdropping. "They have no other choice. Even if one or both of them do see through what His Majesty is planning for them, that will change nothing now."
Having heard enough, Uryū carefully and quietly continued on walk away from the Grandmaster's room. So His Majesty had ulterior motives for choosing him and his cousin to be his successors. He had been foolish. He should have known that a man who led a hidden Quincy organization that was full of full-blooded Quincy soldiers who hated half-blooded Quincy, could never allow a Gemischt Quincy, let alone TWO, to be his successors without a reason. Whether the reasons that Yhwach told him were true or not, he had no way of knowing just yet.
And Haschwalth was correct. There was nothing he could do at the moment as anything he did now could lead an entire army coming after him.cIt would seem his plans for revenge would have to wait for the moment. Now he had a new goal.
Find out Yhwach's true motives for choosing him and Yuzu as his successors, and protect Yuzu while doing so, because only God (not Yhwach nor the Reiō) knew what they had been telling the poor girl.
As for Ichigo being alive...
He would cross that bridge when, or rather IF he reached it.
Unfortunately for Uryū, he was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice Haschwalth looking at him walking away and after a few moments, walk back into his room and shutting the door.
--
--
In a big room inside one of Ichibē Hyōsube's chambers, four Shinigami were currently standing face to face in teams of two. Lieutenants Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai and Captains Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Suí-Fēng were all wearing standard Shinigami shihakushō, standing in a Zanjutsu stance while holding wooden swords and sweat dripping from their faces and arms onto the floor as they stared at their partner. They had been doing this for hours, and their bodies were aching, not used to standing straight and still, telling the Shinigami to move but they refused to listen to them.
BONG!
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" They all cried out as they practically crumbled to the floor.
"Holy cow! That takes a lot out of you!" Renji exclaimed.
Suí-Fēng walked up to him and slapped his head, hard. "Worthless fool! What is so difficult about training that simply requires us facing each other and standing still?!"
"S-Sorry, Captain Suí-Fēng." Renji stammered and rubbed his head, much to Rukia's hidden amusement. "It's just that, I'm not used to standing still for long periods of time and pointing a weapon at an ally."
"I don't think anyone here likes pointing a weapon at an ally anymore than you do, you idiot!" Rukia half shouted as she glared at her best friend.
"That's why you look as worn out as we are, lieutenant Kuchiki." Everyone turned their attention towards the white haired boy, who was sitting down cross legged. "Besides of which I still have not gotten used to the atmosphere of this place."
"It is true." Suí-Fēng agreed. "The concentration of spirit particles in the air here is quite irregular. It no longer feels so oppressive that it physically weighs me down, but every motion I make here still feels like I'm moving through water." She then moved her arm left and right. "I cannot imagine what kind of effects all this spirit particle concentration is having on our bodies."
Suddenly, Rukia's soul phone began ringing. Apologizing, she answered it. "Hello. Yes, this is Kuchiki!... Yes?... Really?!... Yes! Of course!"
"Who is it?" Renji asked as Rukia ended the call.
"That was Master Kirinji!"
"Ohh. The guy with the hot springs and the beak hair. When the hell did you get his number?"
"What is going on?" Hitsugaya asked but already knowing the answer, noticing the huge smile on her face.
"It's about Brother." She beamed. "Master Kirinji says he has made a full recovery!"
--
"You sure spent a lot of time in that bath." Tenjirō stated as the man stepped out of the White Skeletal Pit and began drying himself off with a towel. "I think you're the first guy to stay that long inside one of my springs."
The Hot Spring Demon smirked. "How you feeling? Blood rushing to your head from the heat?"
The noble looked at the healer. "There is no danger of that. I have learned all too well that I am far too weak to allow myself to grow headstrong."
He then stared off into the distance. "As I have been lucky to survive, I must strive to once again achieve enough strength to justify the pride I just held."
'Took you long enough to get that stick out your ass'.
"Good."
--
"He's back in action?! That's great news!" He smiled, but then stopped himself and deadpanned, remembering a very key detail. "Which means that he will stuff his face with Ms Hikifune's delicious food, get his blade reforged by that whacko, and then he has to go to... that place."
There was silence for a few moments, then everyone shuddered.
"Don't even remind me." Hitsugaya shook his head. "That was an awful experience."
"The measuring from hell." Suí-Fēng trembled, remembering her not-so-pleasant time at the hands of Senjumaru.
The petite lieutenant shivered. "Indeed. Being stripped naked. It is painful to even remember." As she looked at her comrades, something struck her.
"Captain Hitsugaya! Why are you remembering it?! Please stop! Do not do this to yourself! Captain!!"
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
"Mh?"
Senjumaru's eye twitched. "Do not make me repeat myself boy. I sincerely doubt that you failed to hear my instruction. Now hurry up and remove your undergarment."
The ice captain felt extremely uncomfortable. "Um, Ms Senjumaru? With all due respect, you are measuring me for a new Shinigami robe, correct? I'm positive I do not need to remove my fundoshi in order for you to do so?" He politely asked, hoping he would not have to remove his underwear.
The woman scratched her chin with one of her bony hands, looking thoughtful. After a few moments, she replied, "I see... Very well. So be it." She then looked at him with an evil expression, making Hitsugaya involuntary take a step back.
"I will slice off your most precious part before taking your measurements."
"I WILL STRIP! I WILL STRIP!!"
"Captain Hitsugaya!!" The boy-looking Shinigami snapped out of it and stared at Suí-Fēng's worried face. "Thank goodness! I was afraid that you would recall all the way to the part where you removed your undergarments!"
"WAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!" Ichibē laughed, looking at the Shinigami with an upbeat expression as he slid open the door. "You all have become quite talkative, I see. When you first arrived here, you were so overwhelmed by the spirit particle density that could scarcely move or talk, let alone breathe. You could only lie cowering on the ground, look at you now! How far you all have come! What do you say? Are you all ready to train with me in the inner chambers?"
They all stood up, eyes hard and filled with determination.
"YES, SIR!!!"
--
--
Kisuke entered the underground chambers, completely exhausted. It had taken him quite a while to restore the Bankai that the captains of the Gotei 13 had lost, and his former protege was not much help either.
"Hey Kisuke. You look like you haven't slept a wink." The werecat said, concerned and closely examined him, noticing the slight bags under his eyes.
"I just want to sleep, so-" He never got to finish as familiar reiatsu spiked up on top of them.
'Tessai!' They both thought as they practically flew up the ladder and entered the living room, where they were met with the former Kidō Corps Commander, sitting around the table, casually sipping tea while a tall man with a strand of hair on his face looking bored and a very familiar man with glasses, both wearing Quincy clothing stood at the door.
Tessai turned around after hearing noise behind him. "Welcome back, sir." He greeted. "I trust your journey went well?"
"As well as it should be!" Kisuke replied in his jovial tone, whipped his trademark fan out and hid his face behind it, all traces of exhausted instantaneously disappearing. "Hello, Uryū. Nice to see that you're doing well and didn't run away like your father said you did. Now, who's the gentleman standing next to you?"
The man suddenly struck a flamboyant pose. "The name's Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Sternritter D. Nice to meet you."
The former captain narrowed his eyes. "Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihoin and Tessai Tsukabishi, but I feel like you already knew that."
Askin nodded. "Of course. We know all about you and your friends in Karakura Town, but we aren't here to talk about that."
"Oh? Then what are you here to talk about?" Yoruichi curiously asked.
"His Majesty wants you to join his army as a Special War Potential." Uryū monotoned.
Kisuke folded his fan and looked at the two Sternritters intently. "And what happens if we refuse?"
Askin shrugged. "Nothing. His Majesty specifically ordered us to not use violence against you and your friends."
The three friends simply looked at each other, a silent conversation taking place. Yoruichi then looked at the men, particularly at Uryū. "Sorry, but we're gonna have to decline. We don't want to get stabbed in the back by an entire army who hates Shinigami."
The eccentric man sighed. "Fine then, that's your decision but be warned. The next time you see us, we'll be enemies."
The shadow under him suddenly rose and moved to the wall. The 'D' Sternritter entered first, but as Uryū was about to enter the shadow himself, a tight grip on his arm stopped him in his tracks. He turned his head and glared at the dark skinned woman who was holding his arm.
"Why are you doing this, Uryū? Why are you trying to hurt your family so much? They are worried sick about you." She asked, unfazed.
"I'm a Quincy, and tell him to do to Orihime what he always does to others."
The coldness of his tone made the former Shihōin clan head to widen her eyes and loosen her grip just enough for the Quincy to forcibly yank his arm away from her and enter the shadows himself, which then dissipated.
"Just tell that man to do to Orihime what he always does to others." Kisuke muttered to himself.
"Boss?"
The man frowned as he paced around the room. 'What could that mean?'
The woman narrowed her golden-yellow eyes. "What's wrong, Kisuke?"
Kisuke ignored the question. "At least now we know the whereabouts of Yuzu and Ryūken's boy, though I'm pretty sure Ryūken won't be happy to hear the news. At least this day cannot get any worse."
Literally as he said that, the former captain of the Tenth Division, in his Shinigami gear and his daughter came barging in the shop, slightly panting.
'Shit. I HAD to jinx it.' He thought as he looked at his friend in concern. "What is the matter, Isshin?"
"THEY TOOK YUZU!! SOMEBODY TOOK YUZU!!" Karin yelled.
Kisuke sighed. He really didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, but he had to tell him. It was his daughter after all. Luckily for him, Yoruichi was the one who spoke. "We know."
"What do you mean 'We know'?" Isshin breathed out dangerously.
Before anyone could answer, a huge spike of reiatsu came from underneath them, making them sweat and collapse to her knees. What was strange about this reiatsu though was not the sheer amount of it.
It was the fact that it felt really familiar.
It disappeared as quickly as it came. Without looking at the others, Yoruichi charged down the ladder while Kisuke led the others to the emergency passageway that led to the basement.
--
Juha Bach's Point Of View
While he waited for the others to arrive, he quickly manifested a Khyber blade similar to the one he created for Ichigo when he was suppressing his wielder's true power. He then stabbed half of it into the ground, leaving the other half exposed out of the ground. Creating a single thought in his mind, he closed his eyes and disappeared in a bright flash of blue and white, and instantly reappeared, standing on top of the hilt with the ever non-existent wind making his hair and cloak flow.
A couple of seconds later, he clearly heard the buzz of Shunpo as four people - no five, one was being carried by Shiba - and opened his eyes to see Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Shiba unsheathing their zanpakutō while Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai Tsukabishi got into defensive stances.
Kisuke's Point Of View
"Why, hello there." Kisuke's tone and expression were jovial, but his eyes told the zanpakutō spirit another story. "It's not everyday you see someone trespassing onto private property, let alone entering the basement without a certain humble shopkeeper's knowledge. Now can I please have your name?"
"Greetings to you, Kisuke Urahara. Yoruichi Shihōin. Tessai Tsukabishi. Isshin Shiba, as well as you, Karin Kurosaki. It is a pleasure to see you all." The man monotoned, and the sandy blonde haired man noticed that the strange man was intently focusing his attention towards the werecat, who seemed weary off the attention she was getting.
"My name is Juha Bach."
All of their eyes widened before raising their guard up even more, if that was possible.
'Shit.' Kisuke cursed. 'This is very bad. Why HIM of all people?' He subtly turned around and noticed that everyone had become on guard, with Isshin standing in front of Yuzu and with good reason. If the stories were accurate, then they were dealing with one of the most powerful men to ever exist and a man he knew they would be better off not fighting for now.
"Do not be alarmed. I am not here to cause you any harm, as doing so will lead to my wielder losing his temper."
"Wielder? You are a zanpakutō spirit?" Isshin curiously asked him, confusion and fascination making their way towards his brain.
The zanpakutō spirit (or so he claimed) nodded. "Indeed. Very soon, my wielder will pay all of you. Lady Yoruichi, I trust you are aware as to who I'm referring to."
Then with a bright flash of blue and white, the man disappeared. They all breathed out a breath they never knew they were holding.
"Who was that, Dad?" Karin timidly asked. Clearly the man had intimidated her without even trying to.
Isshin was about to answer her, but he paused and looked at everyone, who hesitantly nodded.
Might as well.
"Karin, I need you to listen to me closely as I won't repeat this again. Yhwach... was the man who killed your mother."
--
'What a day it was.' The scientist thought as he stared down the impossibility that was the traitor's son.
"So..." Ichigo drawled, his eyes scanning the two people in front of him. Yoruichi was by his side, resting her arm on one of his broad shoulders. "What do you guys want to know?"
Kisuke looked thoughtful for a second. "Well, there are a lot of things that are currently on my mind that I would like to ask, but I suppose I can start off with this: How are you still alive?"
The godlike hybrid rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He had already predicted that this question was going to be one of the first ones they asked. Honestly, he would have been surprised if they didn't ask him that question first.
"I'll answer in a bit, but first things first," he said, looking all over the room. Without saying a word, he put his hand on the small table they were surrounding. A green light erupted from under his palm, quickly surrounded the room and disappeared just as quickly, as if nothing ever happened.
Ichigo felt the stares and shrugged, "A Kidō exclusively for camouflage, mixed in with a soundproof Kidō. Now we can speak clearly without the Wandenreich eavesdropping on us." A wave of understanding washed over the three powerful former captains.
"Huh. I'm more shocked that you, of all people, knows Kidō, something you basically sucked at." Yoruichi remarked.
She's right, you know.
Shut up. "Thank Kirio Hikifune and Ichibē Hyōsube. They are the ones who taught me Kidō and how to control Reiryoku and reiatsu."
"Eavesdropping?" Tessai asked.
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. They can use shadows to eavesdrop and gather information. They've been doing that for a thousand years to see who are the most dangerous threats they are to them. Me and Hat-n-Clogs are on that list."
That caught Kisuke's interest. "Oh my. I can't say I'm not flattered, but for what reason am I on the list?"
"Well, the Reiō wasn't too clear on the specifics, but apparently I'm in that list for my 'latent abilities', while you are there for your 'resourcefulness'."
"Resourcefulness?"
"That's what he said."
"Who else makes that list?" Tessai questioned. "It seems to me that the people on the list are the ones who are very powerful."
"That's what Ossan believes. I myself don't know. Now back to your question: I was revived by the Reiō himself."
Yoruichi removed her arm from his shoulder. "Ichigo, did you say you got revived by the most powerful being in existence? Because that implies that-"
"I died, yes." He finished somberly. "Now Tessai, back to your question before I forget it: To my knowledge, the people who make up the list are me, Kisuke, Kenpachi, Ichibē Hyōsube and," he looked the scientist dead in his eye, making him shift uncomfortably.
"Sōsuke Aizen, who someone I'm currently looking at right now forgot to mention that he was also my biological father."
Kisuke and Yoruichi's jaws dropped to the floor while Tessai's expression turned more stone faced, if that was even possible.
Ichigo continued, "Yeah. The Reiō told me everything. About you creating the Research and Development Institute after Kirio was promoted to the Zero Division, you and Tessai being framed for Hollowfying the Vizards by Aizen," he gestured to Yoruichi, "her breaking you guys out and living in exile, the Hollow White, how my mom and Uryū's dad were supposed to be married, but didn't want the marriage to happen, how my mom and dad met, how you and dad saved my mom from dying after being infected by Hollow reiatsu, how my f- Aizen," Ichigo grimaced, an expression noticed by everyone present. "tricked my mother into a one night stand... Everything."
Kisuke sighed. He had always known that one day, Ichigo would learn about his heritage. That line of thought was before the Thirteen Court Guard Squads acted upon the single most stupid decision they had ever made. After that, he decided the next best thing was to tell Karin and Yuzu. He even got Isshin's permission to do so, but then Yuzu disappeared. Now it didn't seem like the right time.
He slightly bowed his head. "Listen Ichigo. I-"
"Don't bother."
The former captain raised his head, confused.
"I'm sorry?"
Ichigo just stared at him with a neutral expression. "You were about to apologize for not telling me about Aizen, weren't you? Don't. I'm sure you had your reasons. You don't need to tell me why."
He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "You want to know what the funny thing is? After I learned the truth, all the hatred I had for the man just... disappeared. Just like that. It was as if it never existed in the first place."
He chuckled. It was a bitter one. "It was almost as if, I was waiting for the confirmation. I know it's weird, but that's what I felt at the time."
He turned to look at the goddess. "Tell me the truth. You, Tessai and Isshin knew all along, didn't you?"
Golden yellow eyes stared directly into chocolate brown for a few seconds, trying to gauge what his reaction would be. Finally, she inclined her nod forward once.
Yes.
The orange haired man closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. His Majesty was right all along, as he usually was. He had hoped, even though it was a tiny speck of it, that it was not true. He felt waves of support all around his body as the three spirits tried to comfort him.
The truth always hurts, my dear boy. No one can change that as it is reality.
"Listen Ichigo." Yoruichi began, her tone filled with guilt. "You have no idea how much we wanted to tell you, but we had to respect Isshin and Masaki's wishes."
"I know." He said to both. "I will talk to Dad about my heritage, and I have to talk to Aizen soon. But enough about that for now. I'll talk about it when I'm ready." He looked at the shopkeeper with a twinkle of mischief in his brown eyes.
"Time to call the others, don't you think?"
Kisuke chuckled.
"Indeed it's time."