Eleven

Chapter Notes

not gunna lie, I'm absolutely floored by the sheer amount of love and support for Single-Parent-Dad!Aizen, like… just wow. I went into this fic not expecting everyone to be so on board with Aizen acting more and more like a Dad, but here we are… Ah, there should be even more Dad!Aizen coming in the next few chapters, considering Ichigo is going to be pulling his usual put-myself-in-danger-for-the-greater-good-and- protecting-people thing.

Also, I have like 90% of this story outlined (and while for me, outlines are more like loose guidelines to be sort of followed and changed as needed, this is decidedly a good thing!) and I have found several chapters that I have Absolutely No Idea what will happen in them dotted throughout the fic. So! If any of you have anything you would like to see, let me know if it's not already in the fic, I'll see what I can do about fitting it in there… hopefully to fill up those yet-to-be-outlined chapters…

Byakuya was frostier than usual. He slid open his door with a perfectly icy mask to greet Ichigo and Aizen – who had insisted on escorting Ichigo to the Kuchiki compound, because there was 'a dangerous intruder around, Ichigo, they already attacked you once, now let's go we're going to be late'. They had not, in fact, been anytime close to being late. Not that it mattered, Aizen seemed more keen than usual to get Ichigo out of the fifth which definitely meant the man was up to something. Perhaps trying to hunt down Mura himself.

"Aizen-taichou, Ichigo, good morning," Byakuya said.

"Kuchiki-taichou," Aizen inclined his head with a warm smile. Ichigo squinted at it, trying to see the cracked edges that would give away how fake it was. "I'll be back to pick him up at noon."

"Of course," Byakuya agreed easily, his gaze sliding down to Ichigo then. "Come, Ichigo."

"Be good," Aizen told him with the air that he didn't believe Ichigo would be. It was almost like a prayer, really, but then Ichigo wondered who Shinigami would pray to, and even then who Aizen would pray to. With his god-complex it was probably himself.

Still, Ichigo rolled his eyes at it, making sure to angle his head so Aizen got a full view, "It's just training."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to cause trouble," Aizen said, mild-mannered and not showing an inch of how annoyed he must be by Ichigo talking back. Then he gave one last nod to Byakuya and flash-stepped away.

Without even bothering to wait until the door was closed Ichigo turned to Byakuya with an expectant scowl, "Have you talked with Rukia yet?"

"We will not be discussing this. Let's go, we have much to do today." Byakuya turned and flash- stepped away, presumably to the Kuchiki clan's training grounds. Ichigo huffed, waiting only a second until he followed behind. But a second was all Mura needed to slip from his mindscape and

into the shadows.

"She's your sister!"

"I'm aware," Byakuya said, cool and dry. "Today we'll start training you in condensing ambient reishi to walk on it. With that we can-."

Ichigo, scowl still firmly in place took a large step up, purposefully placing himself at eye-level with Byakuya, "Why haven't you talked with Rukia yet? It's been five days!"

"In this case, we will move on to combining this technique with the sequence we covered last lesson," Byakuya said instead of answering.

Ichigo's jaw ached with how hard his ground his teeth, biting back every remark he wanted to make. It seemed, like before, words would be no use. And so with hardly a thought he shot forward, let himself skirt around Byakuya's side and aim a punch towards his back. Byakuya turned to block with ease, but Ichigo was already dropping back to the ground, low enough to sweep his legs out. This too was dodged. Only this time Byakuya pulled back with a flash-step of his own.

"Ichigo that's-," Byakuya cut himself off as he raised his arm to block Ichigo's flash-step and reiatsu enhanced flying kick, "-enough."

"If you won't understand by me telling you, then I'll just have to beat it into you. You're her brother, you're supposed to protect her. Not treat her as less than dirt!" Ichigo skid back before throwing himself forward again, ducking under a grabbing hand and up to try for a kick to the side. He hardly managed to graze him before Byakuya was across the training ground. Ichigo easily followed.

"You shouldn't try to meddle in matters you don't understand." This time when Byakuya attempted to grab him Ichigo flipped, kicked off condensed reishi and with another twist he landed on Byakuya's out-stretched arm. Yoruichi would be proud, he was sure.

"What's there to understand? You're pride?" Ichigo scoffed, using Byakuya's shock to balance on his arm with one leg and bring his other around for a kick that would have hit him square in the face if not for a well-timed block. He pulled back, letting himself fall into the rhythm of it all and sink further into the kind of speeds he was used to. "What pride is there in neglecting your own family?"

He knew the second he said it that he'd perhaps stepped too far. Knew that Byakuya had had his reasons for his reserved approach to Rukia – something with his wife and parents and a jumble of clan politics that Ichigo had listened to Rukia rant about when she came to visit him after he rescued her. But he couldn't bring himself to regret it.

"What pride is there in denying her even your approval?!" he continued. "All she wants is you to look at her! I'd rather die than treat my sisters like that!"

"Enough," Byakuya said, his voice low but piercing, leaving a ringing silence behind. "I understand you care for Rukia and want what is best for her, but-."

"No," Ichigo snapped, "there's no excuse, no reason you can't be a better brother."

Byakuya stared at him for a long moment, face unreadable, before he gave a soft sigh, "We will get back to training. Properly this time."

Ichigo opened his mouth to say something but it clicked shut as Ossan's voice whispered in the back of his mind, "Perhaps it's best to leave it for now, Ichigo. He won't be changed in a few days, and we still need to ask about what he knows of Koga's seal."

He was right of course. Rome and setting down bricks and all that.

Ichigo spent the next hour or so going through the motions of training, trying to work out ways to bring up the topic of Mura before settling on the fact he might as well just ask. Subtly had never been his strong suit and in matters like this it was probably best to catch others off guard with his blunt questions than read between the lines.

Besides, it wasn't like he really needed him to answer; they just needed the thoughts at the forefront of his mind.

And so as he came out of his next combo, he twisted on his heal, arms crossed and scowl in place, "Why were you looking for Stranger-san?"

"What makes you think I was looking for the intruder?"

"Aizen said that's why you were out so late," Ichigo replied; not a complete lie as Aizen hadn't given any specifics during his rant but he'd implied as much.

"Aizen-taichou," Byakuya uselessly corrected him. "And it is none of your concern."

Ichigo huffed, "He attacked me and Yachiru, that makes it my concern."

Byakuya didn't melt at that, didn't even really soften but something shifted in his gaze and Ichigo got the distinct feeling that the man had made some leap of logic regarding Ichigo's questions. "There's nothing to be scared of, Ichigo. Aizen-taichou and the rest of us will make sure the intruder won't get to you again."

"That's-," Ichigo strangled a frustrated growl. "I'm not scared! Stranger-san said he wanted to free Zangetsu and that he'd killed his wielder… but everyone I asked doesn't remember that happening. You acted weird after the meeting about the attack-."

"Ichigo."

"-and then you were out looking for him, you know something. Was Stranger-san's wielder in your division, is that why?"

"Ichigo," Byakuya tried again to interrupt.

"Do you know what happened to him? Because this book I read told me that zanpakuto can't survive if their wielder is dead and-."

"Ichigo, some things are better left buried," Byakuya finally snapped out, voice harsher and with a touch of reiatsu behind it. "We will be ending training early today. You can wait for Aizen in the library."

"I'll head back myself," Ichigo said the same way he had the other day; scowl firmly in place, he slipped back into the compound without a backwards glance. Thankfully, Byakuya stayed in the training grounds, giving Mura ample time to slip out of the shadows and make his way back into Ichigo.

"Anything?" he asked.

"He only knows where Koga is being kept. Nothing about his seal's construction."

"Then we'll try Juushiro and Shunsui," Ichigo thought back. "They were around back then and if there's anyone Yama-ji trusts it'd be his students." A pause, and then, "Where is he sealed, anyway?"

"In the world of the living. Karakura Town."

Ichigo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Of course it would be Karakura.

Like always, Shunsui was sprawled out beside Juushiro, tea and sake cups spilling across the table. "Ichigo," Juushiro greeted, bright and smiling and with all the sincerity Aizen always lacked, "it's nice to see you, but I didn't realize we had a lesson today."

"I think he ran out on Kuchiki-taichou, Juu," Shunsui said before Ichigo could respond, eyes lighted with humor and lips curled into a laughing smile.

Ichigo crossed his arms, "Byakuya told me to leave early."

"Finally wore down even Kuchiki, huh?" Shunsui snorted a laugh, raising his glass that was no doubt filled with sake before downing it. Juushiro sent him a stern look that Shunsui happily ignored.

"What can we help you with, Ichigo?" Juushiro asked.

And just like with Byakuya, Ichigo didn't bother beating around the bush.

And just like with Byakuya, the two captains gave him placations and excuses and told him not be scared or worried, that everything was being handled.

And just like with Byakuya, Mura got nothing from their memories.

Their plan was a simple one. Mura would slip from Ichigo's mindscape and use a spiritual thread to glance at just the surface thoughts of those Ichigo talked to. It wouldn't be intrusive enough that the zanpakuto would notice nor be disturbed, but it was best all the same if the person was distracted and better still to get them thinking about the topic.

It was hardly a perfect plan – if Mura was caught or if whoever he was reading noticed, it would fall apart. But it was better to at least try the other captains first before they tried coming up with a way to make it to the Soutaichou – Ichigo never really saw the man, after all, and if it he did it was undoubtably because he'd done something to earn his ire. And this time he had no interest in pushing his luck and getting kicked from the fifth.

So gleaming information from other captains it would be. For now, at least.

With Byakuya, Shunsui and Juushiro out for the count, it hardly left them with many options. "Unohana?" he offered after a moment of thought. The idea of marching into the fourth wasn't an altogether pleasant one, but what choice did he really have? "She's one of the oldest, I think, and Yama-ji trusts her."

The fourth was a bustling hive of activity. Ichigo watched with a mixture of bewilderment and respect as three officers only just missed colliding through simultaneous three-part flash-steps all while not spilling even a drop of what he assumed was some medical concoction. Another flashed past him with a precarious tower of bandages stacked higher than Kenpachi balanced with seeming ease. Through the chaos Ichigo spotted a frazzled Hanataro.

Dodging around several other rushed medics, Ichigo tapped on his shoulder, "Hey, what's going on?" Had he missed something? Was there a big battle?

Hanataro blinked at him in shock for a moment as if he couldn't actually tell if Ichigo was really there and talking to him, the bags under his eyes and the way his hair was sticking out in every direction made the entire look almost comical. "Unohana has us restoking and preparing extra medicine."

"Why?"

Hanataro tilted his head, and oh, he looked like a panda Ichigo realized. "Because of the invader? Haven't you- wait didn't you and Yachiru-fukutaichou get attacked?"

Ichigo waved the comment off, instead gesturing to the medicine in his arms, "She has you preparing all this just because of that?"

He nodded, "And I really need to get this to Tsuna, sorry but we can talk later if you want?"

"Yeah, see you later, Hanataro," Ichigo said as the medic raced down the hall, not entirely sure if he'd even been heard. Looking back out over the rest of the overworked medics he wondered if perhaps he shouldn't disturb Unohana yet.

"With so many people, should we even risk you coming out?" Ichigo directed the thought towards Mura, worry gnawing at his gut as he had to step back from yet another group of Shinigami.

"Best not," Ossan answered. "Unohana is a nice woman, just asking may be enough."

"Nice?!" Ichigo squawked. "With how many times she's made me stay in bed or how much medicine she's shoved down my throat!? And you've seen her smile!"

Ossan hummed, "Like I said, nice. And nicer still for looking after your health."

Ichigo huffed but didn't bother arguing. Let his spirits think what they will. Unohana was terrifying, which was a far stretch from nice. Kind, perhaps, but only in the way a doctor hellbent on keeping her patients healthy through whatever means necessary could be.

Unohana's office was a city of paperwork and broken brushes. Even just one pile falling would be enough to crush an unfortunate soul.

"Unohana?" he called out.

"Ichigo?" a voice said back from somewhere in the room. "Are you okay?" After a moment Unohana appeared from behind one of the stacks, not even looking back to stop another from toppling over. "You don't look hurt…" she murmured as she crowded into his space. "A fever? No. Are you feeling any pain? More tired than normal? You just came from training with Kuchiki- taichou, yes?" A bloodthirsty glint entered her eyes, "If he let you get hurt in anyway, please tell me, I'll handle it."

Ichigo ducked around the next reaching hand, "I'm fine. I just-."

"Oh, that's good to hear," she said, soft smile replacing her killing intent. Good? Then why did she look so disappointed?!

"I was wondering if you knew anything about Stranger-san?"

"Stranger-san," she repeated, confusion flickering across her face for only a moment. "The invader? There's no need to worry about them, Ichigo. We captains will take care of everything."

The same answer. Ichigo grit his teeth; had they all practiced this in secret? "But-."

"No 'but's. I won't have you running off looking for trouble and coming back to me covered in injuries. You were already attacked once and that is one too many times. Now, run along, everything is being taken care of. Even the Soutaichou is out on patrols."

Ichigo could feel his spirits practically sit to attention at that little tidbit of information. "The Soutaichou?"

Unohana hummed, "Yes. I hear he's out looking for the invader, so you have nothing to worry about."

Nothing to worry about indeed, Ichigo thought. "Thank you."

"Of course, Ichigo," she said. "Now, give me a moment and I'll send a butterfly to Aizen so he can come pick you up."

Ichigo shook his head, "You don't have to, I can go back on my own."

"Nonsense," she said.

"Really. He's busy and I don't want to bother him," Ichigo insisted; best not to let the bastard know he'd been running around, after all.

Unohana's smile softened, her eyes practically closing with her warm joy, "So filial and responsible. I wish you'd have joined my division… maybe I should find a child…" The last part was hardly a murmur and more for herself than anyone else, but Ichigo's face was flaming all the same. From anger. Definitely from anger. There was no way he'd ever be filial to Aizen. "If you insist," Unohana said, louder this time, "I'll let you run off. Be careful and head straight to the fifth."

Ichigo dashed away before she could change her mind.

Not that it mattered. The second he slid open the door to Aizen's office he was met with a searingly cold gaze and crossed arms. For a long moment he debated just closing the door, turning around, and going back to Unohana. But only for a moment. A very, very long one.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Aizen said.

On second thought…

"Inside."

"It's not like I did anything."

"Now."

Ichigo's scowl didn't drop, but he did slip inside and shut the door behind him. "I only told him the truth," he huffed. "He doesn't treat Rukia like an older brother should."

"I don't care about what you said to Kuchiki-taichou," Aizen said, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was the one aggrieved here. "Ichigo, what did I tell you about going anywhere alone with the invader on the loose?"

Technically, Ichigo mentally snorted, the invader wasn't on the loose anymore. "Not to go anywhere alone."

"And what did you just do?"

"There's Shinigami everywhere," Ichigo countered, "I was hardly alone, and besides it's not like the sixth, fifth, and fourth are far from each other." Pointedly, he didn't mention his pit-stop at the thirteenth.

Aizen, mouth, already open with a reply, clicked shut, his eyes losing some of their fire as they took in Ichigo's words. "You went to the fourth? Are you hurt?" A hand was already reaching forward and Ichigo wasted no time ducking around it with an even more impressive scowl than usual.

"No, I went to visit Unohana."

"Why?"

There were a lot of thing he could say to that. The truth. He wanted to get information on Koga's seal to help release him and reunite Mura with his wielder. A lie. He'd been feeling sick but Unohana said he was fine and just needed rest – too easy to check. Or… "I just didn't want to come back yet."

Or something so close to another truth that Ichigo felt gutted just uttering the words.

"You just…" Aizen sighed. A world-weary one that said he had no intention of dealing with any of this today. Ichigo, horrifyingly, could relate to that. Horrifying because relating to Aizen in any way made his skin crawl. "Stay where I can see you for the rest of today. Meditate. Read. I don't care. Just don't leave my sight."

Ichigo grumbled incomprehensibly as he sunk down at the low table, sword across his lap and eyes already closing. In seconds he was surrounded by side-ways towers and struggling plants. "I can't wait to stab him," he snarled by way of greeting.

"Da feelings mutual," Shiro snorted.

"At least we did get something from all this," Ichigo said while turning towards Mura. "The Soutaichou's looking for you, too."

Mura hummed, "Our meeting is fated then."

"We still need a plan," Ossan spoke up. "We have no clue what the nature of the seal's release could be. While I have no doubt you are powerful, it is unlikely you alone will be enough to stop the Soutaichou and break the seal at the same time."

"It will be of no concern," Mura said evenly. "He will be distracted fighting his own zanpakuto."

Ossan inclined his head, saying no more.

"Still," Ichigo interjected, "we've come this far. I'd like to see it through to the end."

"If that's what you wish," Mura agreed. "As a thank you for your help, you will be the first Shinigami to witness my master's return."

"But how're we gunna get Kingy there? He can't make his own garganta withou' disappearin' for weeks." Shiro crossed his arms, "An' ya say ya can control Yama's spirit but what if their like Ichigo and us?"

"Unlikely," Mura said, "but if you're so concerned then I will simply take Ichigo with me when I make my own retreat."

They formed several plans form there. From Mura sneaking off in the night to be 'caught' by the Soutaichou and Ichigo following after when the battle broke out; it would give Ichigo an excuse in saying he was curious but there was the real chance he wouldn't make it in time or be caught trying to get out of the fifth. Then Shiro suggested just barging into Yama-ji's office and of course he would say that. It was shot down with hardly a second thought. They thought of sending Ichigo over first and having Mura follow – but there was no guarantee that Yama-ji would show up on any given night. And for all that Ichigo had gotten away with sneaking off before, it was unlikely no one would notice gargantas opening so often in the eastern forests. Especially with everyone on such high alert.

"I got it," Ichigo said, shooting up from where he'd taken to sprawling out across the cool glass.

"As long as it's better than Shiro's last idea," Mura muttered.

"Hey! Leading a bunch of hollows in to distract everyone would have been fun!"

"Just listen," Ichigo said, head lightly pounding. Once he was sure he had their attention he continued, "This is what we're going to do…"

Eleven

Chapter Notes

So, I re-watched the anime while writing this so some of Mura's and Koga's lines are actually from that but otherwise this won't be following much of canon (because I mean, seriously – hollow Muramasa turning into a magical dome world of his inner world… I mean I get bleach pulls some crazy stuff with spiritual powers and the fight between Muramasa and Ichigo there was awesome but like… still)

The night-chilled air smelled like dried leaves, dirt, and long goodbyes. Or maybe that was just the tightness in his chest as Mura slipped from his soul and stood on moonlit grass, hands tucked in his pockets and something guarded in his gaze. Ichigo's fingers twitched to reach out. It'd taken them another week to get this far; a week of avoiding Aizen's searching gaze, Byakuya's stiff instructions, and Unohana's gentle concern. A week of Rukia sending him looks and Yachiru sneaking candy into his pockets.

A week that had started off with Ichigo trying to sneak out only to run into Aizen because of course he would and ending up grounded of all things. Not that it did much. His friends still stopped by and he was still carted off to lessons.

Still, Ichigo had the distinct feeling that being grounded by Aizen was going to be the least of his worries once all was said and done. And what a night to end it all.

Clear and crisp. The stars cut a striking tapestry across the pitched sky. The moon hung a solemn observer in shades of black and white. Ichigo took another breath and found his lungs too small. Just like everything else since he came back. A breeze ruffled his hair with phantom fingers and Ichigo wanted.

If he hadn't lost his swords before he wouldn't understand the way his heart grew heavier even though a part of him was missing. No. Not a part of him, he reminded himself. Mura had a wielder already.

"After all this," he said, to distract himself or to give himself hope he wasn't sure, "we should meet up some time. Maybe Koga could help me take down Aizen…" He said it half wistfully half serious, not really expecting much of an answer.

Mura, expression a grave thing that had no place for the excitement of what they were about to do, dipped his head, "I will discuss it with my master."

There was a twinge in his chest that wouldn't let him even offer the barest hint of smile to that. "Where will you two go?"

"I don't know," Mura admitted, or seemed to. "Although I have a feeling he will want revenge for being sealed."

Ichigo opened his mouth to say something to that, but Mura's head shot up towards the right, his sword materializing with a shimmer of reiatsu. "Someone's coming."

"Yama-ji?"

Mura frowned, "I don't know. Either way it's best we start."

Even with that, they stood a moment longer. Mura most likely for Ichigo's own slow release of Zangetsu. Ichigo, because if he just waited another second, another breathe, then maybe he could let go when he inevitably needed to. The weight of Ossan and Shiro in his hands was almost empty comfort. Just shy of aching. Just shy of hesitating.

Mura struck first.

Their blades met with a resounding clang and outburst of reiatsu that flattened the grass and shook the trees. Good. There wasn't a chance no one felt that.

Breaking apart, Ichigo brought Shiro up and cleaved a scaring crack into the dirt. It let the blade slow enough to broadcast the strike. Not that Mura couldn't have dodged. But it was better to be safe than sorry. Mura himself countered, and Ichigo met it with Ossan. That same ringing longing echoed down his sword, but the sadness he'd felt before had turned into a screaming, heart- wrenching, sting. His breathe caught. Heart pounding a tender rhythm.

Mura pulled back.

"Ichigo get out of here!" Byakuya cried out as he slid between them, zanpakuto already drawn and slashing out.

All Ichigo could think was damn it. They'd been so sure it was the- A hand fell on his shoulder and Ichigo looked up to see the Soutaichou, his face a grim shadow of aged lines and anger. "Leave, boy. This is no place for you."

A flash.

A comforting wash of familiar reiatsu, his own trying to reach back and tangle with it.

And then two new figures shuddered into the clearing – Ichigo stared at them with wide eyes. Senbonzakura a towering presence in dark hues of purple and red, samurai mask firmly in place and hair pulled back. The spirit stood with composure and grace. A fitting spirit for Byakuya, Ichigo thought. But it was the mountainous raging ball of fire that really caught Ichigo's attention. The flames licked hungrily at the treetops and grass alike, although it never spread. Swirling into itself as it remained in place even as Ichigo got the distinct feeling it was looking down on them all. This was…

"Ryujin Jakka," Yama-ji said, a weary lilt to his voice. "That is enough."

The fire did not answer.

Senbonzakura, on the other hand, had no qualms about speaking their mind, "It is presumptuous to order us around so lightly." And then his blade was drawn and for a heart stopping moment Ichigo thought they would attack Mura instead. But no. Byakuya met his own spirit's blade head on.

Ryujin Jakka had still not moved. Yama-ji did not seem surprised nor concerned.

Then Mura was behind him, blade to his throat and Ichigo watched as the Soutaichou's hand fell to his blade, grim features twitching as he took a ready stance. Ichigo, for his part, tried his best to look as unsettled as he could – tried to look the part of a small child caught in a trap. Not, he supposed, that it was entirely hard given his physical age. "Release him."

"No," Mura said, shifting just enough to open a garganta behind them. "He will ensure my master and I's safe negotiation for the injustice Soul Society has reaped."

"Injustice?" Yama-ji repeated, calm and unflinching. "There was no injustice in sealing a madman who'd fallen to killing innocents."

"I see." Mura's voice was chipped ice, "Even now, faced with your past mistakes you refuse to see them. How sad."

It was like a bubble had formed, blocking out the ruffle of the breeze and the sound of clashing swords. Blocking out the heat of the raging inferno. Leaving only the pounding of Ichigo's heart and the weight of words heavy between them.

And like any bubble.

It popped.

"Ichigo!" Aizen's voice rolled over the clearing with rage and, if Ichigo didn't know better, something like desperation or horror.

And that was as good a queue to leave as any.

The last thing he felt as the darkness of the garganta swallowed him whole was the lick of Aizen's reiatsu bursting across his skin, just as strong as he'd felt it when they'd fought years ago. And oh, Aizen was going to regret that later. When Ichigo was back safe and sound with a new ally, he'd regret revealing so much of his power in front of not one but two captains. Not to even mention that one of them was the Soutaichou.

And then the world was reforming, grass came up to catch him and the sound of leaves greeted them. They were in Karakura. Or the outskirts of it; somewhere in the forest, right next to a lake.

"Hey," he called out just as Mura took a few steps forward towards the water, presumably towards Koga's seal. When he looked back, Ichigo continued, "I know I already said it, but- it's been fun. Let's not forget each other."

"I don't believe anyone could forget you, Kurosaki Ichigo," Mura said, then turned away once more. Ichigo felt like the air had been punched out of him. All the same, he shook his head and followed across the lake to the small island. An island with fog thick enough to cut and a giant tree that attracted hell butterflies. Honestly, Ichigo didn't know what else he should have expected.

"Koga," Mura called out, a smile on his face. The first that Ichigo had seen.

"I'll keep watch," Ichigo said, turning away to do just that. Mura may have released their zanpakuto but Ichigo didn't doubt that the captains weren't far behind. A few feet away, Mura started reciting some spell or other and Ichigo only paid half-a-mind to what it was. As long as it released Koga.

A minute passed, maybe more, when in the distance across the water a senkaimon opened. Damn. They were here. "Mura," Ichigo hissed as warning.

"-this holy grail, o' vengeful spirit. Break free from your slumber and rise up with the six keys passed through the ages…" Mura continued, eyes closed and hand raised, sparks of purple reiatsu flowing over the tree. Ichigo grit his teeth. Hopefully he was close. "Forgotten coffin, I command you to open."

The world shattered.

Literally.

Ichigo spun at the sound of shattering glass, to find what could have only been an illusion created by the seal falling apart. It scattered around them, hardened pieces of reishi hitting the ground and dissolving like snow on a warm winter's day. Ichigo blinked only once and found himself staring suddenly at a coffin. Massive and imposing with three halberd struck through.

"My master," Mura said, reverent, "at last, I've arrived. Now… to finally release you."

The same purple reiatsu as before sparked along the coffin before light burst out and-

Well, Ichigo wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but the person that step forward wasn't it. They were emaciated and starved, wrinkled not from age but being locked away. A pang of pity strung through him. Soul Society had done this. It shouldn't be a shock, really. Not after all that they'd done in his future – from attempting to kill Rukia to setting him on Aizen to take the weight of their mistakes.

Mura's smile only grew, his eyes hungry and consuming as they took in his released wielder. Love. Ichigo realized with a start. There was an almost mad love mixed into the relief and guilt. His next words were said loud enough for all to hear but Ichigo got the feeling they were hardly for him, "The wish I've had for an eternity has been granted."

Mura walked forward, arms out.

Koga whispered something that Ichigo couldn't quite hear, but the look on his face… it was all wrong. Shouldn't he have been happier?

Ichigo took a step forward, something wasn't-

The only warning was the slightest shine of a blade reflecting the moon and then Mura was being stabbed through the middle.

"Muramasa!" Ichigo screamed, moving before he even realized it, he slid in between them, forcing Koga to pull back, the blade in Muramasa's abdomen ripping out with an obscene and sickening squelch. Shiro and Ossan were brandished as a warning and a shield as Ichigo stared down Koga with a thunderous scowl.

"Koga," Muramasa gasped out from behind him, hand to his stomach, "why?"

"You never answered me when I called," Koga said, voice grating like sandpaper from disuse. "When I was being sealed I called for you."

A pained gasp behind him and Ichigo wanted it all to stop.

"But-," Muramasa stuttered out, "-I never heard you. I- I had been waiting so patiently for you to call upon my power and- If I had heard even one word, I would have come to your aid at any time."

A thump behind him and Ichigo didn't need to look to know Muramasa had fallen to his knees. Didn't need to look to know the sound of footsteps beyond that was the arrival of the captains – wait, no, only one by the sounds of it. Still, he kept his furious gaze on the monster before him. The monster that would stab his own spirit. For what? For not hearing?

"You must believe me Koga, from that day to this… I've tried to break that seal." Out of the corner of his eyes Ichigo spotted Muramasa's hand reaching out. And yet Koga looked on with nothing but disgust.

Koga scoffed.

Scoffed.

"As a Shinigami and your master I gave birth to you power," Koga proclaimed. "After that, your only purpose was to obey me. And even then, you failed. A useless tool, and useless tools shouldn't be so conceited. I have no need of you." And with that Koga held up the blade in his hand, wicked smile stretching his face and-

Something in Ichigo cracked at the sight of Muramasa's blade laid out broken on dew-kissed grass.

Months and months without his spirits. Months that felt like lifetimes. Months that ate away at what little was left of his soul with each second of emptiness. There were no words for what splitting your soul did to you. Literature liked to quote it though. That this pain or that pain was the same as losing half yourself. That it was being split in two. Ripping your heart out. Ichigo wanted to scream at those authors. Wanted to rip apart their flimsy lines and even flimsier understanding. There was no comparison.

How Ichigo hadn't even been able to lift a finger. How he choked on the cry of his own sword's name. How he spent hours laying awake just trying to remember the feel of them in his hand, remember the sound of their voice, the steady warmth of having them at his back. It hadn't been a quiet pain, but it had become that way, and that made it worse. Losing your soul…

It really wasn't worth it.

And now… Now Koga threw it all away with a smile.

"You-," Ichigo choked out past gritted teeth and a scowl that would make Shiro back down. "I'll-."

Ichigo was-

"I'm going to kill you."

For the first time Koga seemed to realize Ichigo was there.

"You?" Koga sneered, "A mere child is going to kill me? Don't make me laugh. Move aside and when I am done with my revenge I may just let you live."

"Revenge… Is stabbing Muramasa part of that?" Ichigo bit out, his reiatsu creeping out of him inch by inch. Any hard-won control he'd managed to gain in reigning it in lost. "He's spent ages trying to set you free, and this is how you treat him! What kind of sick, twisted freak are you?! And what was that bullshit about zanpakuto being tools… They're more than that. They're born from our hearts and souls, and if you can so easily throw yours away-," Ichigo's grip tightened on Shiro and with a swift move he brought the sword up, "-then you don't deserve to call yourself a Shinigami. You don't deserve to call yourself anything. Getsuga Tenshou!"

Even with how close they were, the blast missed. Koga flashing away at speeds Ichigo had only seen in Byakuya and Yoruichi. Not that it would stop him. What does however, is Byakuya sliding in to take the blow that Koga had intended for Ichigo. The look he sent him was clear; stay out of this.

As their battle pushed out over the lake, Ichigo had to fight down the urge to follow. He had something more important to handle, after all.

"Muramasa," Ichigo said, kneeling down beside the shocked and bleeding spirit. He pressed his hand against the wound on his stomach, frown working across his lips. "We need to keep pressure on it."

"I failed." Muramasa said eyes wide and staring down at his own shaking hands. Incomprehension written across his face. Heartbreak sewn into every line of his hunched figure.

Ichigo shook his head, "Don't say that. The only failure here is that bastard, got it? If he can't see your worth, then that's his own problem."

"Ichigo," Muramasa said, voice a soft thing. "I am sorry."

And then, for the second time that night, the world around them shattered.

Hollows.

Hollows everywhere. They surround them, an army of hungry souls ready for a feast and… And they'd come from Muramasa. After he'd explained eating them to survive, Ichigo had known it was dangerous, but to end up like this… With Muramasa clutching his head and wounded stomach alike, eyes glazed over and unseeing as he screamed.

"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo shouted, bringing both his blades out in a horizontal arc. It destroyed a good portion of the hollows, but not enough. Not nearly enough. And it didn't even slow them down from crashing back into Muramasa. Merging into him with such fervor all Ichigo can do was watch and try to destroy those within reach.

When the fog and the light finally cleared-

"Muramasa," Ichigo whispered, pained. The spirit- no, the spirits that stood before him had become something else. Not a hollow, but no longer fully the zanpakuto spirit he'd come to know and care about. His entire torso now bone with a hollow hole in his chest rimmed by what Ichigo could only describe as teeth.

"Ichigo," Ossan calls out urgently, "if we want him back, he needs to use up the hollow energy he's absorbed. When he does we'll only have mere seconds to draw him in here or lose him. And Ichigo. You know his name…"

There was no need to finish the sentence. They all knew what it meant and what would come of it if they failed. While Ichigo didn't let his eyes shut at the thought, it was a near thing.

"Even if we only have a heartbeat," he said, steady and blades raised and Muramasa started to move, "I won't let him disappear." They already had a connection, after all. It was easier to solidify an existing one than form a new one and that gave them a sorely needed advantage.

"Better not, Kingy. I was just starin' ta like 'im!" Shiro cried out.

"How the hell am I supposed to get him in there, though," he asked, because the idea that was popping into his head wasn't all that pleasant.

"Do you remember how you reached the Final Getsuga Tenshou?"

"How could I forget."

"Then you already know."

Right.

Of course.

Ichigo shifted his grip on his blades as he blocked Muramasa's first attack. He just needed to get the hollows out of their first. Easier said than done.

Several kido, Getsuga Tenshou, and Cero later, Ichigo could finally see the dents being made. Hollow-Mura was slower now, several smaller ones had made breaks for it. Fleeing as best they could. Not that they got very far, but it all worked in his favor, so who was Ichigo to complain of their self-preservation and cowardice.

All it took to scare off the last clinging few was letting Shiro rise to the surface for a beat. The flash of his eyes and the bloodthirsty, hollow tinge his reiatsu gained sent them running for the hills. Menos were no match for a Vasto Lorde, after all.

And when Muramasa finally stumbled from the fray, it was on weak limbs and with his sword in hand.

To his right, Aizen and Unohana slipped out of a senkaimon. He was out of time on all ends, then. Without out a second of hesitation, he reached out and gripped Muramasa's blade, uncaring how it cut into his hand. Then he threw himself forward, pulling on the sword at the same time. His aim was true. It struck right through his heart.

"Ichigo," Muramasa said, eyes wide and jaw slack with mounting horror.

He only smiled, "Don't worry, Muramasa." And just like he'd done ages ago, in a bid to stop a madman and knowing it'd rip him apart, Ichigo let his spiritual energy free and pulled. He could feel Ossan and Shiro reaching out to help. Yes, it was just like reaching his final form. Only this time, he was going to become whole.

"Ichigo!" Aizen screamed his name. And, really, the man just had the worst timing as of late. Not that it mattered, Ichigo was already slipping into his inner world. The grassy island and rippling lake giving way to sideways-buildings and- oh, the rounded stone pillars with creeping vines were new.

"Ichigo," Ossan greeted, solemn but not sad. "We got him." He stepped to the side and revealed Muramasa laid out, prone but whole and alive. Shiro sad beside him, triumphant grin stretching his face.

"We got him, King."

Ichigo nodded, relief a heavy thing, "We got him."

"I'm afraid there's no telling when he'll wake, however," Ossan said, his gaze falling back on the newest member of their soul. "It may be some time before it happens."

"As long as he's safe," Ichigo murmured. Hopefully he wouldn't resent Ichigo for being this selfish when he did wake. Wouldn't begrudge him for bringing him here and making him stay. "I need to go back out there," he said then, "there's an asshole I need to kill and for once it's not Aizen."

"Agreed," Ossan hummed at the same time that Shiro shot to his feet.

"I wanna feel his blood on my blade," Shiro declared happily.

"You and me both."

Ichigo opened his eyes to find Unohana and Aizen leaning over him.

He blinked once at their relieved faces – one faked and the other painfully real – before pushing himself up on only slightly unsteady legs. "Where's Koga?"

"Sit down, Ichigo," Unohana instructed gently, "I'm still healing you."

"Where's Koga?" he asked again, already twisting in a circle to look for signs of a battle. There was little chance that Byakuya and Koga would be fighting quietly. And while the battle may be over already, he still had hope he'd be able to intervene and end Koga himself. Consequences be damned.

A burst of reiatsu in the distance. Not far then. Good.

"Ichigo," Aizen said sternly, his hand coming to rest on Ichigo's shoulder, "listen to Unohana- taichou and sit back down."

Ichigo shook the hand off, scowling back, "Koga's mine."

"What- Ichigo, sit down, you can't go off fighting centuries old Shinigami," Aizen hissed out, his mask cracking further and further at Ichigo's continued defiance.

"Like hell I can't," Ichigo snapped. "He tried to kill his own zanpakuto!" My spirit, my friend, Ichigo corrected in his head.

"And he'll face justice for that," Unohana-taichou said. "Kuchiki-taichou is serving it as we speak. There is no need for you to rush off and get killed."

"I won't be the one dying," he grit out, taking several steps back before flash-stepping away, more than aware that Aizen and Unohana are hot on his heels. He hadn't been training for nothing, though. Late nights and playing tag with Yachiru, pushing and pushing and pushing his younger body. It paid off. Thankfully, it paid off. And so with abandon he flew through the trees and slammed right into Koga. Blades first.

Koga met his attack with a smirk that he couldn't wait to wipe off with his fist.

"Ichigo!" Ah, and there was another captain calling his name to get him to back down. It was such an odd contrast to the future, almost giving him whiplash.

"Come here to die, boy?" Koga asked all self-assured cheer.

"Someone like you could never dream of defeating me," Ichigo said, eyes narrowed and head held high.

"Such arrogance for someone so young," Koga laughed, mocking and deranged.

"Look whose talking, asshole!" Ichigo shouted, more than happy to make the first strike. Koga met Shiro with his soulless halberd, the resounding clang ringing loud around them. Ichigo brought

Ossan up not a second later, but Koga twisted his weapon to block that too.

Ichigo flipped up and over Koga's own low riding swipe, coming around at his back. Koga twisted, his halberd swinging out wide with him, but Ichigo blocked it with ease. A soulless blade was no match for his own.

Just as they broke apart, a hand grabbed onto the back of his clothes and pulled. Koga's next strike was met with the steady blade of Unohana. "Ichigo," she said, serene and still smiling warmly, "what had we said about running off?"

Ichigo opened his mouth to retort, but the hand on his clothes let go and gripped his arm instead, dragging him into a flash-step that took them away from the fight. "How many times…" Aizen muttered as they came to a stop. He let go and before Ichigo could even start to move away, a thick rope of yellow reiatsu wrapped around him.

"Hey!"

Aizen merely raised a brow, "What did you think would happen?"

Ichigo didn't bother responding, already building up his spiritual pressure to break free.

Aizen sighed, "None of that." A barrier shimmered to life around him and Ichigo gawked. Was Aizen serious?! "Do you have any idea what you just did?"

"I know perfectly well what I did," Ichigo snapped.

"Really?" Aizen hummed, his face dangerously calm. "I don't think you do. You disobeyed direct orders from not one but two captains, as well as your own guardian. Orders that were to keep you safe after being kidnapped by an invader that had already attacked you once. And for what? Koga was already being handled by Kuchiki-taichou. You interrupted their fight because of your own arrogance and pride and could have been killed for it. Don't you dare believe for a second that you were going to win," Aizen continued, gaze hardening with each sentence.

Ichigo could do nothing but sit and listen, eyes widening more and more at each word. No one had ever reprimanded him for getting into a fight he couldn't win, at least not since he gained his powers. Well, no one except Rukia but the midget didn't count because she criticized most things he did.

"Koga was playing with you and nothing more." Aizen shook his head, "Now, you are going to stay here until Koga is dealt with and when we get back to Soul Society we will be having a long overdue talk about this behavior."

Aizen turned away then, haori fanning out for a second before he disappeared into flash-step, leaving Ichigo gaping and angry and itching for a fight.

Eleven

Chapter Notes

Let's play a game of "spot the lesbian side of the author taking over"

ANYWAY – lots of notes and all important this chapter is on the longer side – mostly because the spar between Unohana and Aizen was completely unplanned and impromptu – but it is also the heavier topics in this such as child soldiers, neglect and abuse from a parent, and such… now, this fic was never designed to deal with those things in their entirety or in the sort of depth that they should be in real life, so I haven't done that here just to let you know. All the same, the next chapter after this one is much the same in its themes, so this is your warning. If you find that you cannot read this chapter or the next then please comment and I'll give you the summary of the important plot points. I hope you're all staying safe and healthy 3

Also, to be completely clear about the ship: I am in no way confirming grimmichi; mostly because I am a slut for other ships in this fandom, and I really like Starrk/Ichigo at the moment. However! I also may leave it as Gen, this fic has such a heavy focus on Aizen and Ichigo's relationship and the build up of that as well as Ichigo's own mental health and interpersonal relationships with friends and family and his own spirits that I honestly am not sure if there will be enough space in this story for anything more. This is just a warning – maybe I'll change my mind, but for now I'm sticking with Gen.

ALSO I am really excited for chapter 23 and I'm not tellin' why :3

"Of all the reckless, thoughtless things you've done, throwing yourself on a sword has to be the new low. Explain it to me," Aizen hissed, "what could you have possibly been thinking pulling a stunt like that?"

Ichigo opened his mouth to reply, but Aizen bulldozed on just liked he had for the past ten minutes. It was fascinating really. Watching the normally controlled and calm captain completely lose it and not in the way his mask cracked but in how it wasn't even there at all. And even then, this wasn't the same man who had led a war against Soul Society. That Aizen had been collected and self-assured and even in his insults had been almost dismissive. This Aizen was far from that.

"You weren't thinking," Aizen was saying. "I know I taught you better than that! What if Unohana-taichou and I hadn't arrived when we did?" Aizen gestured towards the fourth division captain who had settled herself by the door with a too-kind smile on her face that was this side of too-stiff and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

It hadn't been until they arrived back in Soul Society that her presence had been explained. Apparently, the Soutaichou had ordered Byakuya to chase after Ichigo and Muramasa while telling Aizen to get Unohana. Yama-ji, on the other hand, had stuck behind to deal with his, 'stubborn and rebellious spirit'. And it'd all been planned at that! Yama-ji and Byakuya had revealed rather stiffly that they'd known about who Muramasa was and what he wanted from the start. They'd planned to use the opportunity to deal with both enemies at once – letting Muramasa unseal Koga

and finally end his existence as a final act of justice that they'd been unable to give those innocent lives years ago. They just hadn't planned on Ichigo showing up. Nor Muramasa being unable to hear Koga's voice and Koga's own rejection of the spirit.

So, now here he was. Seated on a bed at the fourth while Byakuya was off giving his report to Yama-ji. Aizen and Unohana both staring him down with equally disapproving looks. Seriously, he knew that being underestimated was to his favor, but he hadn't realized just how annoying it would be.

Ichigo held in a sigh as he tuned back into Aizen's rant.

"-should be thankful that we managed to convince Byakuya we'd arrived in time to fight the spirit ourselves. Do you know what would have happened if the Soutaichou heard you'd won against the invader on your own?"

It was all a bit much, though, wasn't it? Ichigo understood that Aizen was mad about almost losing his experiment, yet this was coming on fifteen minutes now and he showed no signs of slowing down.

"No point in tryin' ta understand 'im, crazy scientist types are like that," Shiro said.

Ichigo gave a mental sigh, "How's Muramasa?"

"Still sleepin', just like he was when ya asked the last time. An' the time before that. An' the time before that. An'-."

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"Are you even listening, Ichigo?" Aizen demanded, dragging him from his thoughts.

"Yes," he dutifully replied.

"What did I just say?"

"He mentioned you will be giving a formal apology to Kuchiki-taichou, Unohana-taichou, and Yamamoto-soutaichou," Ossan supplied.

Ichigo repeated it. Although without the titles.

Aizen pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply, "Unohana-taichou, thank you for healing him, we'll be getting out of your hair."

"There's no need to thank me," Unohana said as she shifted away from the door. "Please bring him back in a few weeks for a check-up."

"Of course," Aizen agreed easily, turning to Ichigo with a put-upon expression. "I don't even know what to do with you," Aizen told him. "Explaining it doesn't work, grounding you doesn't do anything… do you really want the Soutaichou to remove you from the fifth that badly?"

"No," Ichigo grumbled, slipping from the bed and grabbing his now-sealed sword as they prepared to leave.

"Perhaps," Unohana started, stepping forward, "what Ichigo needs is a demonstration of how dangerous Shinigami and hollows are. A spar would do, I think. And then send him my way for cleaning duty if it doesn't work."

Shiro practically vibrated in the back of his mind at the prospect. A spar? With who though? If it was Aizen it would be a good way to test himself, considering Aizen had started to patently refuse after Unohana revealed how his growth was negatively affecting him. Maybe Unohana would do it. Ichigo had never had the chance to cross blades with her before; it would be thrilling.

"A spar may only incite him more."

"Between us," Unohana clarified.

Ichigo watched in wonder as genuine shock flickered across Aizen's face, "You are willing to spar?"

"It has been some time, I will admit," Unohana hummed, "but if it is to teach Ichigo to mind himself and means I will see him here less in the future, then I am amenable."

Both of his eyebrows raised before he offered a short bow, "It would be an honor."

A shock of anticipation sung down Ichigo's spine; getting to watch Aizen get his ass kicked by Unohana was more than worth having to clean up the fourth. And more than worth missing out on the spar himself. Even if Shiro was pouting.

"Please, follow me," she said. "We can use the fourth's training grounds. If you're agreeable, then I believe it would be best to do it now so there's no chance for a crowd."

Aizen tipped his head in ascent. Then he reached out to rest a hand on the top of Ichigo's head and gently guided him to follow. Out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo shot Aizen a look. This was new. Handholding and carrying him; done many times before. But not this. At least, not that he could remember. He wouldn't have given it a second thought if Aizen hadn't also acted so odd with that monologue. Not that monologuing was out of character, but to do so over Ichigo getting into a fight? Wouldn't he want his experiment to fight? To see how strong Ichigo was? Even if it was out of some obligation to get Ichigo of age before truly testing his abilities, it still didn't explain the frustrated undertone or the unfamiliar look in his eyes. Neither of which had ever been there before; neither in this time or the future.

Perhaps Ichigo had finally managed to annoy him into madness.

One could only hope.

The fourth's training grounds were a startingly green field with hardly a patch of dirt in sight. No craters or burnt grass or remains of destroyed targets and a few leaves laying complacent over the area. Surely this was their less used grounds.

He was so distracted by the sight that he didn't notice the kido until it was too late. One second, he was frowning at a patch of overgrown weeds and the next he was on the ground with bakudo one wrapped around him. Wiggling his way to a seated position he found himself scowling at Aizen through a shimmering gold barrier, Unohana only just lowering her hand. "For your protection," she said evenly.

"And so you won't interfere," Aizen tacked on.

"I wasn't going to anyway," he huffed, but both of them had already turned away to head further onto the field. It took hardly any effort to break the ropes tying him down; the first strike – courtesy of Unohana – had only just been made by the time he'd gotten comfortable.

It was painfully obvious they were holding back.

Aizen stuck strictly to lower-level spells, and Unohana did the courtesy of doing the same. They were slower than he knew either could go, barely above the average seated officer. If they wanted him to be impressed and scared and not itch for a fight because he was out of his league then this was the farthest thing from doing that.

Not that it wasn't interesting to watch.

Aizen putting on his show was the same as ever, but Unohana-

She was resplendent. Even as she held back, Ichigo could see the grace of her movements, the instinct that she was fighting to take advantage of every opening. Not a single movement was uncalculated. Every step. Every swing of her sword. Every incantation. All of it done with purpose and a single-minded push to win. The flicker of coldness in her features had Ichigo's breath catching. It made his hand twitch for his blade. Made his blood sing and Shiro crack a demanding shout to fight her. Even Ossan was paying attention.

How had he never seen this side of her before? If she was this skilled then why had she taken the backstage during his invasion and the later war?

Perhaps an order from the soutaichou… She was the captain of a division of healers, after all, and was desperately needed for that during the war. Either way, she was clearly a warrior, and a strong one at that. A warrior and a medic… A half-formed thought started in the back of his mind, but it fled before he could grasp it.

Abruptly the two stopped, both turning to give a bow in Ichigo's direction. He turned in place to find none other than Yama-ji coming up behind him. Unohana was the one to speak, "Yamamoto- soutaichou, what brings you here?"

Yama-ji didn't reply until he had settled himself next to Ichigo in the over-grown grass. "Please, do not stop your spar on my account." The two captains looked from Yama-ji to each other and then back. They offered one more bow and then their battle was on again.

"If you're here to tell me how dangerous it was and how I shouldn't be so reckless, you can save your breath," Ichigo said. "Aizen and Unohana already did."

It was rude, he knew. Abrasive and dismissive and all the things he shouldn't be towards the soutaichou. He didn't care. There was no chance in hell that he was going to sit here and listen to yet another Shinigami scold him for jumping in. After all they'd done in the future, they had no right.

"Not at all, my boy," Yama-ji said. "Merely checking in. A kidnapping must be scary for one so young and unused to battle."

Ichigo shrugged. "I knew Aizen would come." He doubted that even if it hadn't been planned it would have been all that scary. But Yama-ji looked at him and saw a child. Young and naïve. Untested. Untrained. Looked at him with expectation. And Ichigo was more than ready to tame those assumptions for himself. More than ready to use them to make sure the old man wouldn't be taking him from the fifth. Soul Society and the head captain were many things, but he was betting on them not being so heartless as to take a supposedly traumatized child away from their trusted and beloved guardian – even just making himself think it sarcastically had him practically gagging.

What a damn risk it was, too.

Asking the same people that had tried to execute the visored to be conscientious of a child; he had

truly gone insane.

Ichigo felt Yama-ji's gaze on him. Perhaps waiting for him to elaborate. Instead, Ichigo focused on Aizen and Unohana as they continued crossing blades, the occasional kido thrown out between them.

"Aizen will lose," Yama-ji said, drawing his attention away from the rather embellished series of flash-steps and kido spells flying around at the moment. "Unohana is older and more experienced. To my knowledge she has only lost twice. Once to myself and once to Kenpachi-taichou."

Unohana and Kenpachi had fought? When? Why? The questions itched on his tongue but a particularly large explosion caught his attention first. Aizen had used some kido or other to blow rock and dust into the air, obscuring Unohana's vision and protecting him from her own kido attack.

"A distraction, but a short one," Yama-ji explained. "However, if he does not stop looking over here then I'm afraid the fight will end sooner than I originally suspected."

Ichigo blinked. Aizen was looking over here? Did he really think so lowly of Ichigo that he couldn't trust him to talk to Yama-ji and not spill everything?

Yes.

The answer was a resounding and unmistakable yes.

It continued on like that; with Yama-ji making comments about their strategies and what was happening. Ichigo wasn't sure why, though. He was sure Yama-ji had better things, more important things, to do that this. But the old man sat there, droning on about katas and practice and kido spells and flash-step. About how it was all more flashy than necessary and how that was for Ichigo's benefit.

Only as the spar was clearly winding down did he decide to leave.

"I believe that's by cue," Yama-ji said, pushing himself to his feet. "Sasakibe will have my head if I leave the paperwork for too long. Bureaucracy is truly an unbeatable beast."

"Not if you ignore it." It took Ichigo a full few seconds to realize that he'd said that out loud. "I mean," he said, too fast, "you're the head captain, what can they do if you don't do it?"

Yama-ji chuckled, "Even I do not have all the power here, but that is not for you to worry about or for me to teach." Yama-ji nodded towards where Aizen and Unohana were finishing their spar with a bow, "I'm sure Aizen-taichou would be willing to explain. Good-bye for now, Ichigo."

"Bye," he said, but Yama-ji had already flashed away. What Ichigo wouldn't give to be able to do that and have no one follow. No one demanding answers he couldn't give and telling him was too young even out of ignorance and secrets.

"Ichigo," Aizen started, drawing his attention as he stopped by his side the second the shimmering barrier dropped. "What did the soutaichou want?"

"He said that if you concentrated more the spar wouldn't have ended so quickly," Ichigo said innocently, eyes widening slightly to complete the effect of a clueless child.

Aizen's brow twitched as Unohana poorly muffled her soft laughter.

"I'm still grounded, aren't I?" Ichigo pointlessly asked a moment later.

"Grounded doesn't even begin to cover it."

"Sit."

Grumbling, he sunk into a seat across from Aizen at the man's desk. Several piles of paperwork were shuffled to the side, and Aizen lent forward, hands interlocked, before he spoke again.

"Where is he?"

His blood turned to ice. "Where's who?" he asked, but his voice was tripping onto the side of too high and Ichigo knew by the close-eyed sigh Aizen let out that he was merely delaying the inevitable.

"The invader, Ichigo," Aizen said. "Where is the zanpakuto spirit?"

Ichigo's face hardened, "Nowhere you can get to him."

"That doesn't answer my questions."

No shit, Ichigo mentally snorted. "It wasn't supposed to."

"Ichigo," Aizen said sharply, "this isn't a time for games, the invader is dangerous and-."

"No, he's not," Ichigo interrupted, scowl fierce and eyes blazing. "Muramasa only wanted to unseal his master because being cut off from the other half of your soul hurts and then Koga went and stabbed him and he lost control of the hollows he consumed to survive! If it's anyone's fault it's Soul Society's for their jealousy and fear and closed-minded bullshit leading to Koga's sealing and Muramasa's revenge."

"You know his name," Aizen said, voice soft with something like confused wonder and dawning realization.

"I-."

Aizen ran a hand down his face, "Start from the beginning."

Ichigo wasn't sure why he bothered. It wasn't like Aizen deserved to know, or had any right to demand the whole story, but he may very well take it to the soutaichou and then Kurotsuchi would be ordered to find a way to get Muramasa out of Ichigo's soul. Aizen was petty like that.

"I met Muramasa the second time when I'd snuck off to train…"

Hardly a full minute passed before Aizen interrupted.

"You let a potentially traitorous criminal into your soul."

Ichigo frowned. When he put it like that, it sounded pretty idiotic, but at the time it had been the only option. And besides, Ichigo could feel Muramasa's loneliness. Knew that loneliness like he knew the taste of Yuzu's curry or the scratch of his mom's favorite sweaters on his cheek. Not that he was about to explain that to Aizen.

"It was the right thing to do," he said instead, crossing his arms.

Aizen simply took a deep breath before telling him to go on.

"Byakuya asked what I was doing…" Ichigo continued with the story.

Not that that lasted long…

Aizen held up a hand and Ichigo's jaw clicked shut, "You planned to get kidnapped."

It was a trap. If he answered no, then he'd be lying and Aizen would call him on it faster than Kon leaping at Orihime's chest. Saying yes, on the other hand, meant admitting to it and Aizen would definitely not take well to that. But then again, when had Ichigo ever been scared to face Aizen?

"Yes."

Had Aizen been any less dignified, he would have slammed his head into the desk and screamed. As it was, he just stared at Ichigo for a long few seconds.

Once the silence started to grow stale, Ichigo continued, "When we got there…"

He'd only just gotten to the part about getting the last of the hollows out of Muramasa and grabbing his sword because Ossan had explained the way to save him when Aizen opened his mouth again. This time Ichigo was more than prepared.

"You threw yourself on his sword to get him into your inner world."

"Well, it worked."

"All because your zanpakuto spirit told you to," Aizen continued, seeming to have not heard what he'd said. "Where is your self-preservation?" The question was muttered low enough that it probably wasn't meant for him.

"Ossan's never been wrong about this sort of thing before," he defended anyway.

"You trust your zanpakuto enough to risk your life like that?" Aizen questioned, incredulous.

"Of course! Don't you?" he asked before he could think better of it, before his mind caught up with his mouth and remembered how useless it would be to ask – Aizen had given up his sword in the end after all. Had fed part of his very soul to the death-ball. Ichigo barreled on before Aizen could respond. "Ossan and Shiro wouldn't do anything to hurt me." Not anymore, at least, he silently added. "And Muramasa's already been in my mindscape. I can hear his name, he's part of me now and nothing will change that."

"I can't believe I have to explain this. Ichigo," Aizen said slowly, "you can't go around inviting random spirits into your soul. It's dangerous. You have no idea what they might do-," Aizen held up his hand to stop him from interrupting. "I understand Muramasa has been perfectly amiable, but suppose he wasn't. He could have killed you."

"But he didn't," Ichigo countered. "What's the point in assuming everyone is out to kill me?" Even if, by experience, that was mostly true, in the end most of them had become his friends. "And none of this was Muramasa's fault! Those old officials were just scared and jealous of him and they would have destroyed him because of their own selfish desires! He doesn't deserve to die and he didn't deserve Koga rejecting him. None of it was fair and I had the power to change that, so I did."

"And now he's part of your soul."

Ichigo nodded, "And now he's part of my soul and I'm not giving him up. Ever."

"Even if it's against the law and central forty-six would see you dead?"

"Fuck the law and fuck central," Ichigo snapped.

"Language."

"But-."

"How would you say that without cursing."

Ichigo let out an aggrieved breath, "Central and their stuffy, close-minded laws can burn in hell."

For a moment Ichigo thought he saw Aizen's eyes gleam with humor, but it happened so fast that he must have imagined it, "We'll work on it another time."

"Can I read now?" Ichigo asked, because this was getting tedious, and it felt like as good a time as any to stop with whatever parental charade Aizen was playing.

Aizen raised a brow, "No, you'll be going to bed."

"I'm not tired," Ichigo said with a huff. "And it's almost sunrise anyway."

"All the more reason you should be sleeping." Aizen started shifting the paperwork back into place, a small frown on his lips. "Now, off you go."

Ichigo rose to his feet, but just as he was going to open the door, he paused. "Aizen?"

"Yes, Ichigo?"

"You won't tell anyone about Muramasa, right?" He has to make sure. If Aizen did then… then what? He couldn't fight Aizen as he was now. He could run though. Kukaku and Ganju would surely hide him before smuggling him from Soul Society. The visored would take him in hopefully, because Urahara and his family would be the first places they'd look for him.

A sigh. "No, Ichigo, I won't tell."

Oh. "Okay," he said, "goodnight."

"Goodnight," Aizen replied, a knee-jerk reaction and completely absentminded as he turned back to his paperwork.

Ichigo watched him for a moment longer before finally leaving.

Muramasa was still asleep.

It had been four months and Muramasa was still asleep. Four months of silence. Of meditation and sitting vigil and asking and nothing.

Four months and Muramasa was still asleep and Ichigo was slowly losing his mind between that

and the cleaning duty he'd been running at the fourth since his 'kidnapping'. Neither Unohana or Aizen had let up on it. Every day Ichigo was to report in for three hours of duty, regardless of other lessons. And while he wasn't grounded anymore and could therefore seek out his friends on his own, with the hours of cleaning he hardly had the time.

Not to even mention his new stalkers. Muramasa spying on him while he trained had been frustrating enough, but having a team of onmitsukido on his tail twenty-four-seven was downright torture. He couldn't do anything. Not run off to train, not play 'tag' with Yachiru, not speak with Gin or Yoruichi.

They'd only just gotten off his case. Thankfully, that also meant being brought to the living world because apparently accepting an entirely new spirit into your soul was 'concerning' when your soul was already 'fragile' and 'stretched thin with growing at an increased rate'.

At least he got to see Urahara irritate Aizen.

A silver-lining that was quickly crushed with Urahara's words immediately after his results were calculated – with a rather loud and obnoxious ping at that. "I believe it's time you reconsider accepting the hogyoku."

"No."

"Ichigo-."

"No," he said with a scowl. "Putting that in me is the same as handing it to Aizen gift wrapped."

Urahara sniffed, "He doesn't have to know."

"He knew when you put it in Rukia."

"Yes, well," Urahara cleared his throat, "this is different. Without it…" Urahara let his fan dangle loosely from his fingertips. "Ichigo, you're dying."

"I'm already dead," he said, because what else could he say.

Urahara shook his head, "Your little time traveling stunt is the reason for all your symptoms. Not your soul adjusting. The fatigue, the pain, and the issues with garganta. All of them lead back to your jump back here. I told you before that it would either settle itself or rip you apart. As it stands, I can say for certain it's the later." His eyes scanned over the numbers once more, "You said you accepted Muramasa into your soul?"

"Yeah."

"Well, things don't look better than your last visit, but I had been expecting it to be much worse…" Urahara's gaze snapped to him. "It seems I was right."

"About what?" Ichigo asked hesitantly.

"You need an anchor," Urahara declared. "Something to link you permanently to this time. Your friend's-."

"Orihime's."

"-powers and your resolve did a lot of the leg work, but they couldn't give you something to hold on to when you got here!"

"How does that even make sense?"

"How does time travel make sense?"

Ichigo snorted, "Fine, okay. Let's say I need an anchor. How do I get that?"

"You may already have one with Muramasa," Urahara admitted. "Like I said, your numbers aren't as bad as I anticipated but they aren't good either. Muramasa seems to have stopped the worst of it." At Ichigo's deadpan look Urahara chortled, "To put it simply, he is from this time. You aren't. By having him as a part of your soul you created a link between you and this time. Something more permanent than your resolve. Have you noticed any differences since he joined you?"

Ichigo scratched his cheek, "I'm not as tired, and there's no more pain. I haven't tried anything with a garganta though."

He jotted something down on the file, muttering to himself like the mad scientist he was and happily admitted to being. "Ichigo," Urahara said, voice suddenly serious, "there is no telling whether it will last or not."

"Didn't you just say-."

"That you need an anchor, yes," Urahara interrupted. "But Muramasa is just one soul, and while he may slow things or even solve them for now his power is not equivalent to that of time and space."

"I'm still not taking the death-ball."

"You may not have a choice. I'll run the numbers some more and we'll have to keep an eye on it… If he wakes, it'll be a good sign, but not definitive. It would be easier if I could keep you here for testing…"

"Good luck convincing Aizen."

"I think I can manage it," he said with cheer.

"If you say so," Ichigo snorted.

"As it is," Urahara continued, "I can give you the reishi pills I've been creating to help, they should slow down losing this anchor, but again, when they break it could be catastrophic. There's no telling what damage will be unleashed."

"If," Ichigo corrected, "if they break."

Urahara eyed him, and for all that he normally effected an air that he was without care, Ichigo could see the shadows under and in his eyes. It did nothing to shake his resolve. No matter which way he looked at it, getting the death-ball implanted in him would ruin his chances at changing anything. Just because the world wanted to have him tremble before it, didn't mean he would. Ichigo refused.

"You're not really giving me any options here," Urahara sighed.

"Yeah, well, you're the scientist so if either of us can figure something out, it'll be you."

"Your confidence in me is astounding and reinvigorating!" Urahara chimed, fan waving in front of his face and eyes curved with the smile he hid. "Why I'm positively swooning!"

"Pervert."

"That hurts, Ichigo, hasn't Aizen taught you not to call people names?"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, "I could stab you instead."

"And lose your only chance at salvation?"

"I said stab, not kill."

"You're a very strange child."

Ichigo scowled, "I'm not a child."

"Potato, potato."

"That's not how that saying goes."

"Really?" Urahara said, so innocent that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. "I think it's more suitable this way."

Ichigo reached for his blade.

Urahara, smartly, retreated towards the door, "I'll get those reishi pills. Why don't you go wait with Aizen out front, hm?"

"Damn it, Hat-an-clogs," Ichigo muttered, ripping off the host of sensors still attached to him and slipping his upper robes back on and grabbing his scarf and coat. When he was done, he stared down at his hands. "Dying, huh?" he huffed out on a soft breath. His hand fell to the hilt of Zangetsu. "It could be worse."

Aizen was sitting drinking tea like an absolutely dramatic bastard when Ichigo made it back out to the front of the shop. Urahara was across from him with a, frankly enormous, bottle of slightly glowing blue pills between them and a much smaller one to the side. "I've included an extra sample so that you won't have to take any from Ichigo for the testing I know you'll want to put them through," Urahara was saying as he walked in. "Free of charge, even!"

"How… generous," Aizen said at length, staring at the bottles like they had personally wronged him. And well, they were from Urahara, so maybe they had.

"Ah, Ichigo," Urahara greeted him like Ichigo hadn't just threatened him with bodily harm, "there you are. I was just telling Aizen here that it's best you take two pills a day and to spend more time in reishi rich environments. Preferably those that match all parts of you." He said the last part far too cheerfully.

Ichigo blinked, not remembering that being mentioned before. Still, it was rather self-explanatory. "You're saying I need somewhere with hollow reishi too?" That would mean going to Hueco Mundo. And if it was Aizen bringing him he doubted that it'd be anywhere other than Las Noches. Perfect.

"Exactly," Urahara exclaimed, practically beaming. "You can manage that, can't you?"

Aizen gave a thin smile, filled to the brim with distaste, "It won't be any trouble."

"Of course, of course." Urahara practically sung. "And that reminds me," he went on, "Why don't you leave him in my care for a bit?"

"No."

"Oh?" Urahara said, voice filled with laughter. "And why not? It would make finding a way to help him that much easier."

Aizen met Urahara's gaze evenly, "I'm sure you can manage without him."

"Is that a compliment I hear," Urahara snickered.

"Hardly," Aizen hummed, taking another sip of his tea. "I'm simply not unaware of where your strengths are. Unless everything really is for show."

"That's more your area, isn't it," Urahara countered, still cheerful but entirely biting. "Although, maybe I was wrong, seeing as you haven't even covered up those gray hairs that you've gotten since last we spoke."

Aizen paused, mouth parting ever so slightly and Ichigo was witness to the ineffable event of Aizen Sousuke being speechless. It was magical. Urahara would have to teach him. Too bad it didn't last that long.

"Come, Ichigo, let's go home," Aizen said with a tight smile.

"How lovely," Urahara chimed like a damn bell. "I had no idea you were planning to take him to see his parents!"

Ichigo's head snapped towards Aizen at that; he knew it hadn't been what Aizen meant, but that didn't mean he couldn't hope and that didn't mean he couldn't try and sway him. "Can we?"

"Ichigo," Aizen said, voice even tighter and mask gone – seriously, how did Urahara manage it every time, "go wait outside."

"But-."

"Outside. Now."

"Fine," Ichigo snapped back, scowl increasing as he spun on his heel. "See you later, Hat-an- clogs!"

"Bye-bye, Ichigo! Come back soon!"

Ichigo slid the door closed behind him with a click and breathed in the chilled air. It stung his lungs and made his nose itch even as he buried it into the scarf that Aizen had wrapped around him like a noose. He was thankful for it now, as well as the thick coat draping his shoulders. For all that he might as well have been walking through a fire while in the shop, it at least let him avoid the biting cold while watching snow fall. They didn't get snow in Soul Society, so it was something of a treat to see it again after all this time. It reminded him of playing with his sisters and watching them make snowmen on their days off. A good memory. One that didn't even twinge as he remembered it; only drew a small smile to his face.

Wiggling his face free, he let out a particularly long breath just to see it in the air. It hung there for a second, suspended, and Ichigo wondered whether a human would be able to see it if they walked by.

A car rolled, unhurried, down the street, the front lights catching on patches of ice. The whooshing pass of its tires was soft even in the wintery silence. Another came by and then the world was shuttered into shadows only staved off by the shoddy, yellow-tinged streetlight a few feet away.

Ichigo took another breath and tasted winter on his tongue. Fresh and chilling enough to make his lips crack. Reaching out he caught a snowflake in the palm of his hand. It was a delicate thing. More like a clump than only one, but it melted fast all the same.

Shoving his hand back in his pocket after shaking off the water, he tipped his head back and tried to see the stars past the bright lights of Karakura. Only a few dotted the sky.

Another breath. His lungs ached.

He'd forgotten to ask Urahara about them. Next time. He'd remember next time.

Another breath. He pulled the coat closer.

"I miss it," he whispered, the words forming a ghostly puff in the air. "I miss being human."

Silence greeted his admission, and Ichigo shut his eyes as he buried himself back in his scarf. It was blue.

He didn't know what changed Aizen's mind, but something must have. Aizen had come out of Urahara's shop with the hint of a frown and declared that if Ichigo was up to it, then they could stop by and see his family. The first thought to cross his mind was that it was a joke. Some cruel test or other. But a few second passed and Aizen didn't retract the offer. And then they were standing in front of his house, knocking on the door and Ichigo could hardly contain himself.

How long had it been since he'd seen them? Months? Years? I hardly mattered. Even a day without his parents and siblings was too much.

"We can't stay too long," Aizen said as they waited for someone to open the door. Aizen's hand squeezed slightly around his own half-frozen one; something he'd insisted on doing on the walk here. Another mind-game. Another declaration of ownership.

Ichigo nodded, not caring.

His mom opened the door, the light from inside haloing her. Ichigo gave her just enough time to recognize them before he was tearing forward, slipping his hand from Aizen's cold grasp and throwing his arms around his mom. Alive. Healthy. Happy. Her sweater tickled his frozen nose and his cheeks started to ache as warmth returned, but he only gripped tighter, forcing his stiff fingers to curl into the soft fabric. She returned the embrace without hesitation.

"Ichigo," she said, drawing him in impossibly closer, burring her head into his hair. "Ichigo, how are you here?"

"I had to visit Hat-an-clogs," he said, voice muffled as he wasn't willing to loosen his grip.

"What happened?" she demanded, pulling back, hands on his shoulders and experience concerned but fierce. "Why did you have to go there?"

"Nothing," he said with a shake of his head. "I'm fine."

Behind him, Aizen cleared his throat, "Perhaps we should take this inside."

For her part, his mom only gave Aizen a quick once over, eyes hard and jaw set. "Follow me," she said, voice steady even if there was a clipped warning simmering beneath. She reached down and took Ichigo's hand; the same one that Aizen had been holding, despite his other being closer. Aizen's brow didn't twitch but Ichigo had gotten good at telling when something annoyed him. And oh, wow, he'd always looked up to his mom, had always been his mom's son more than his dad's, but getting Aizen annoyed with only a gesture? Ichigo didn't think anyone could compare.

"Honey, who was at the door?" Goat-face's voice called out from deeper in the house.

"It's Ichigo!" his mom threw back. "And… and Aizen!" The last part dripped with false politeness.

There was a thunder of footsteps. Goat-face barreled into the kitchen, where they'd settled; his mom making tea, bustling around with the air that she knew nothing about Aizen and his intentions. And then Ichigo was stood there, dead but the size of a child with his enemy at his back, his mom giving a fake smile and a wide-eyed, gaping Goat-face. It was some kind of cosmic joke. Or a surreal fever dream. He had quite figured out which one.

"Are the twins awake?" he asked, eager to escape the tension and to see his sisters for the first time in years.

His mom turned, cups in hand and smile gentler, "We already put them to bed, but we can head up and see them if you like." She put the cups down, one in front of Aizen and the other for his dad, and held out a hand.

There wasn't a world where Ichigo didn't take it.

"Remember Ichigo, we won't be staying long," Aizen said, because of course he just had to ruin the moment.

Yet, it wasn't Ichigo that stood up to the bastard, but his mom. She turned back with a serene smile, "My son hasn't been home in years." The smile crumbled around the edges giving just a hint of accusation, and then she gave Aizen her back as she pulled Ichigo along, saying no more. There wasn't anything more to say, after all.

"Mom," he said quietly as they trekked up the stairs, "you're the best."

She hummed with happy quirk of her lips, "I am, aren't I?"

Yuzu and Karin were fast asleep when they slipped inside, peacefully curled towards each other as they dreamed. Their faces were softly illuminated by an orange nightlight placed on the bedside table. Little fish and fairies danced over the plastic surface. It was probably Yuzu who picked that out, he thought warmly. The blankets, however, a deep blue with soccer balls stitched into it, was all Karin.

Karin who let out a soft snore before shifting closer to her sister.

The sight had his heart stuttering in his chest.

Ichigo wanted to reach out and pull them into his arms. Selfishly wanted to wake them as hear their voices. He didn't. He didn't know if he'd be able to walk away if he did, after all.

Still, that didn't mean he couldn't look. They were so small. Smaller than he remembered them being – only seven years old. He wondered if Mom and Goat-face had talked to them about ghosts yet. Wondered what they'd told them about him. Whether they knew he would always protect them.

Tentatively, he reached out and tucked a stray hair back behind Yuzu's ear.

She didn't even stir.

For the first time in a long time, with his mom next to time and his sisters in front of him, Ichigo felt at peace.

Ichigo walked back downstairs to find a nightmare.

He knew he shouldn't have left them alone together. Knew he'd been selfish in wanting to see his sisters and thinking Goat-face could handle things. Knew he'd forgotten something. He just hadn't expected this.

Couldn't have imagined that Goat-face would be a stoic statue, immoveable before Aizen's own prickling, underhanded game. A game that involved dredging up things from a past that would have been the future. Things that this Goat-face had never done.

"It was just a game," Ichigo pressed, annoyance rising like a typhoon. He could already hear Shiro's complaints about the rain. "Rough-housing, or whatever. It wasn't even the worst thing he did!" Ichigo blurted before he could think better of it.

There was a hitch as the world held its breath. And Ichigo stood, the eye of the storm, watching the warpath of destruction wind its way from person to person. Aizen's blank expression. Goat-face's horrified one. And his mom's… Ichigo swallowed around a lump in his throat at the shadows cast over her normal warmth.

"Aizen," his mom was the first to speak, "please leave so we may talk with our son alone."

Aizen scoffed, "Do you really think I'd leave him alone with you after what he just said?"

"What he just said is a family matter and will be handled as such."

"From the sound of it, your husband, or should I call you Shiba-taichou, doesn't handle family matters very well." Aizen continued coldly, cruelly, "I assume you were unaware? Although I can't imagine how. Or did you support it?"

Ichigo felt something in him snap.

"She didn't know." He pushed himself into the middle of them all, a snarling, scowling mess of energy without anywhere to put it. Not properly anyway. "Goat-face started it when she was… when she was gone for a while, and then she came back but I- I died and so she wouldn't know!" He could see the dawning realization of just what he meant across both his parents' faces. "It wasn't abuse! Goat-face may not have been the best or even been there much at all, but he loves us and did his best to raise us and that's what counts!"

"Love isn't always enough," Aizen said.

"Maybe not for you, but it is for me," Ichigo snarled.

His mom stepped forward, stopping Aizen from any retort and kneeling in front of him with that familiar warmth back where it belonged, "Ichigo, I think it's time you told me what happened, don't you?"

Ichigo blinked, taken aback. "I wasn't lying," he said once he regained his bearings, "it was just a game."

"But you said that wasn't the worst he'd done," she pointed out gently.

No. That was the war.

"He-," Ichigo paused, trying to word this right, trying to get them to understand that in the grand story of his life his dad's absence and training had been but a drop in the bucket. He took a breath. Childish, he reminded himself. Aizen was here, and- well, he didn't think there was a way to explain this that wouldn't make him sound like a lost kid. "After you- after you left on your trip, he became depressed. Spent more time in his clinic than with the twins or me. He was- he was like a ghost. Nothing cheered him up, and it made sense because nothing cheered me up either." The hands on his shoulders squeezed. "So I started taking care of the twins. Feeding them and making sure they had everything. It wasn't a big deal," he explained, because it wasn't. "I'm the older brother, I'm supposed to do those things anyway."

It wasn't the whole story. Didn't include the lies that Ichigo had forgiven, or more truthfully never been mad over. His dad had had his reasons for keeping his heritage from him, so it was his problem, not Ichigo's. But it didn't even begin to touch how Yuzu took to cooking more because Goat-face never did, and Ichigo could only cook a few things well, while most was only just edible. It didn't even poke the sleeping bear of letting his son run off to invade an entirely different world. Letting his son run off on a suicide mission. No matter how he trusted Yoruichi or Urahara to keep him and his friends from dying.

Isshin had let him cut his soul apart. Had handed him the tools to do it. Because there'd been no other way. No one else to stand up against Aizen. And-

Ichigo took a breath. He hadn't been lying when he told Muramasa he didn't regret it. But that didn't make it ache any less.

"Ichigo…" Goat-face trailed off. It was a pathetic sound. Weak and pleading and praying for something that Ichigo didn't have it in him to admit he needed to give.

"It's alright," he said with a shake of his head and a half-neglected smile caught somewhere close to what Isshin wanted. "Like I said, you love us, and we love you… Next time, you'll do better." Had Ichigo been looking, he would have seen the pointed way his mother met Goat-face's eyes; we'll be talking later, the look said. But he hadn't seen. Had missed it as she pulled him into a bone-crushing hug with incoherent whispers of reassurances and love.

Regretfully, he pulled back after a minute when Aizen stepped forward, "It's time we go. If we stay any longer someone will notice."

Ichigo, thankfully, didn't miss the glare his mom sent at that. "I'll visit again," he promised.

"You better," she said, pushing herself to her feet. "And don't slack off either, study hard and don't forget science and math. Just because you're a Shinigami now doesn't mean you shouldn't learn them."

"I know."

"And make sure you're eating properly. Three meals a day."

"Yes, Mom."

"And remember-."

"Mom, I know."

She huffed, a wet sound, "I suppose I'll worry anyway."

"Ichigo," Goat-face spoke up, "for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Ichigo wanted to say there was nothing to forgive, but that was too much of a lie. Instead, he offered the truth, because what was the point in lying when this would help even more, "I forgave you a long time ago."

It earned him a small smile.

Aizen, for his part, waited until they were back at the fifth, outside his office, before starting what Ichigo knew would be an annoying conversation. A waste of breath as well.

"Ichigo," he started with, "you know what he did was wrong, right?"

"How many times do I have to tell you, it wasn't abuse."

"Neglect then. Or bad parenting. Risking your safety." Aizen met his gaze, "I could go on. He expected you to take care of your sisters when you yourself are a child. That isn't your responsibility. Even your mother agreed."

"I'm the older brother," Ichigo retorted, "it's my job to protect them. It's even what my name means! And don't bring Mom into this, if I could have stayed longer and explained then she would agree."

Aizen frowned, "Ichigo, you're still young. It's not your duty to protect us or them, it is our duty to protect you."

Bullshit. Such utter bullshit coming from the mouth of a lying puppet-master. Ichigo pointedly ignored the voice that whispered about Byakuya saying the same.

"It doesn't matter! Eleven or five or five hundred- if I can protect someone in need I will," Ichigo snarled. "That's not your choice to make."

"No," Aizen agreed. "But it is my choice whether to step in or not. Between Muramasa, your sisters, and your words tonight about your mother being gone and your father's actions, I've found a concerning pattern. Is this urge to protect why you told Yachiru to leave? Why you went after Koga?"

"So what if I want to protect people?" Ichigo snapped. "It has nothing to do with Goat-face and what he did or didn't do! It has nothing to do with mom being gone!" For a moment, Ichigo could actually taste the lie.

Aizen shook his head, opening his mouth to say more.

Ichigo was having none of it, spinning on his heel he moved to the door – having this conversation was bad enough, but having it out in the open like this made his skin crawl.

Two things happened at once.

The first; Aizen said with assurance and surety that, "Whatever happened, Ichigo, it wasn't your fault."

The words rung through him like a bell. Had him faltering. No one… no one had said that to him. Not after his mom's death. Not after Rukia's capture. Not when Orihime was taken.

For the second time that night, something in him cracked, the echo of it an ache building along his throat and behind his eyes.

It was all too much.

How was this his life? It was hardly fair with each disaster tripping over itself to weigh him down. Against each one before, he'd found a way – he'd saved Rukia and Orihime, he'd won a war and even regained part of his soul. And yet, he didn't know how to stand against this. How to stand against Urahara's declaration and seeing his sisters and that conversation with his parents and now this. Didn't know how to face Aizen saying words that he had no right to. Saying words that Ichigo hadn't even realized he needed to hear.

It was all too much.

From one moment to the next the sting overflowed, and he found his cheeks dampening. Aizen's hand came down on his shoulder, pulling him sideways and into what might have been a comforting embrace should it have been anyone else. Ichigo's traitorous mind accepted it anyway.

The second; Unohana slid the door open, her eyes going from Ichigo's tear-streaked face to Aizen and back.

"I think it's time we talked, don't you?"