Ichigo had been raised for slaughter.
This is something he had realized very early on in his seventeen months of broken, and back then, he had seethed in the inside but made sure to not show it outwardly less he give off the wrong impression.
Almost a year in, he came to terms with this immovable fact.
Ichigo had been raised for slaughter.
He's pretty sure Masaki was never involved in this activity, and now that he knows more of his Mom, her Quincy heritage and how she became involved with Isshin he is even more certain of this. Frankly, that had been his one true consolation and damnation during those weeks he couldn't make up his mind on Masaki's part or lack thereof.
Urahara on the other hand, had seen an opportunity and planned a whole mastermind chess move before Ichigo had even been an idea, of that, he is 100% certain. Ichigo also knows, that while Urahara Kisuke had planned the child of a Shinigami and Quincy with Hollow corruption to be raised for slaughter, Kisuke had not been on board with doing so to Ichigo.
He needs to make that distinction in his head a lot; because while the man who was wronged and exiled from Soul Society more than 100 years ago was only one and a half paces away from being a monster in human form, that man mellowed up enough that by the time fifteen year old Ichigo came back from Soul Society with eyes fueled by embers and blood pumping with victory through his veins, that plan didn't even look like the second cousin, thrice removed from the new one.
Kisuke had also worked for almost seventeen consecutive months on the cure for the Final Getsuga Tenshou, and if Ichigo was going to be at least a little bitter with the man, that went away the moment the blonde had shown undeniable proof that he had never really left Ichigo's side and that if there was one person on his team, it would be Kisuke without a doubt.
Isshin had raised him for slaughter.
There was absolutely no scenario Ichigo had been able to come up with where his Dad didn't specifically raise him only for this purpose. The man Ichigo's Mom had married was told of the plan and embraced it like there was no other path to take and nothing could ever change it. Really, the only thing that redeemed the man in Ichigo's eyes, was the fact Isshin ha never tried to do the same to the girls.
If Kisuke was the person Ichigo felt he could forgive easily and without hesitance once the blonde apologized again for his involvement in it all, then Isshin was the one individual Ichigo would never be able to forgive even if the man had tried to apologize -which he hadn't.
All the friends he made in the human realm like Chad, Inoue and Ishida were people he was only slightly bitter with, and it was all restricted to their radio silence for the months he had been weak and powerless. Yes, they had still talked to him during school sometimes, but it seemed like everything else was out of the question. It had only been in the last two or three months that they had started to get back into his life little by little, and because of that, he knows that in a year or so he'll be able to look in their eyes and not feel that betrayal so close to his heart.
His friends in Soul Society like Rukia, Renji, Toshiro, Ikkaku, the visored that moved back and really anyone he had made a good connection with were more… complicated.
Ichigo never heard from them at all. Not a single visit, not a call or even just a hastily passed message via Chad, Inoue or Ishida. Just nothing. Even after he regained his powers and he strode back into Soul Society expecting apologies for not keeping in touch due to busy schedules, or ecstatic joy at his return, he had received happy smiles instead and banter that made it seem like he had been gone for a week instead of months. He understood, a year and change to ageless beings like them must seem like a blink of an eye but-
He would do anything for his friends. Ichigo would die one thousand times before he let anything happen to them that he could prevent, and he had done so already; proven and tried. He had thought, the sentiment went both ways, and honestly that was his own mistake. Ichigo should not have assumed that they would have the same heartfelt devotion to him that he had to them and so that was his downfall last time and it won't happen again.
It won't.
He wasn't angry, not anymore at least. But if he's being honest with himself -which he's trying to do so more these days- there is a part of Ichigo that's still depressed, bitter, and downright spiteful that had blamed them -all of them- for the betrayal.
Ichigo continues his life as best he can, but there is now a difference in him that only few people had cottoned on to. He helps his friends when they ask for it, but never offers himself unless he can't help it. He doesn't get involved in things he has no business being involved in even if -or especially- if it's only out of curiosity and honestly, it's served him well so far. He's less eager to go face things head on than he used to, and he supposes this is one of the most apparent things in his character since he now stops and narrows his eyes calculatingly instead of rushing in sword first.
Not surprising, Kisuke has noticed, and while the blond did give him a blatantly assessing stare once that Ichigo had loosely translated to approval, the man felt no need to mention it.
Hirako was another one of those that noticed, it was hard to miss what with the slight nod of acknowledgement and understanding Ichigo had been given but nothing more had come of it.
Ishida knows too; oddly enough, it's him who looks sadder about this development than anything else but underneath that expression Ichigo knows he sees the regret in it and honestly doesn't know if he'll ever not see it even decades from now.
Most oddly of all though, is Byakuya. Byakuya who almost killed Ichigo so many times and who acted like a walking talking icicle more often than not. Byakuya who had shown disdain for Ichigo in the past and who he didn't feel any particular sort of connection except as Rukia's sometimes bitchy brother. Byakuya who had pulled Ichigo aside on his way out of the Kuchiki manor one day, thanked Ichigo for Rukia -something he hadn't done before- apologized for Rukia's lack of action since as the Kuchiki head he was feeling responsible for some perceived Kuchiki rule of some sort in regards to Rukia and him being the one she owes her life to or something that makes her betrayal even more wrong -yes, Byakuya had used the word betrayal in that exchange and Ichigo had never felt so transparent in front of anyone before- and then telling Ichigo -reassuring- that Kuchiki would not allow this to continue and Byakuya would do what was needed in Rukia's stead since she was obviously not doing so.
That conversation had been beyond weird, but if there is one thing Ichigo can trust in, it's the fact that Kuchiki Byakuya values his family honor above all else and because of that, Ichigo can trust that Byakuya will do what needs to be done.
Two, three years ago Ichigo would have spluttered and denied any perceived debt. Ichigo now grits his teeth, understands the value of a promise like this and nods instead.
Kyoraku also knows, and honestly, if he didn't, Ichigo would be very disappointed. The man doesn't look upset, he actually seems more contemplative and agrees that less naivety would do Ichigo well not only now but also in the distance future that can come at him. He does wonder what this vague comment means exactly, but doesn't ponder on it longer than a day and moves on.
Ichigo continues his life.
He finishes high school after the whole Quincy debacle war he had to get involved in because he already was.
He goes to College and focuses on getting his degree.
He becomes a Doctor, takes over the clinic, and gives Isshin cold eyes as the man does a ridiculous tearful goodbye and moves back to Soul Society with a goofy self-satisfied smile like he had done a good job and was proud of it.
He never marries, honestly, getting some normal human involved is just asking for a headache and everyone else is… no.
He remains in contact with his human friends, he makes a very public visit to Soul Society at least once a year, has tea with Byakuya every other month in his not-strictly-legal visits, catches up with Kisuke in the shop most weeks and tries to help the most people he can as a Doctor doing healing instead of fighting for once -he got tired of it honestly, he had enough battle for a life time.
He dies
He dies like all humans are wont to do in very normal circumstances and no more fanfare then necessary. Rukia comes and preforms the konso even though it's beneath her as a Captain but she likes to think it's symbolical or some shit so Ichigo lets her do as she pleases.
He arrives in Soul Society, to a place full of people he forgave ages ago, some he only kind of forgave and others -one- he will never forgive and knows he can no longer stay impassive to it all.
Kyoraku pulls him aside the week after his arrival in private and gives Ichigo a choice.
Ichigo had been raised for slaughter, and yet he saved many lives in battle and not. Being groomed to defeat mass murdering megalomaniacs vs being groomed to take Kyoraku's place as Captain Commander would benefit from less of that naivety the man had mentioned decades ago.
Ichigo takes it.
Not to be continued…
A/N: OMG did you guys see the new Bleach trailer for the Thousand Year Blood War Arc?