Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, if I did the future I have envisioned would already be a reality. Tite Kubo is owns Bleach as well as the name Kurosaki Masaki. I merely own my OC under the name of Mai and all other OCs.
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Quick reminder:
Italics means thoughts or flashback.
'Italics in single quotes means Ichigo's thoughts while talking to Zangetsu/Hollow.'
"Italics with double quotes is Zangetsu speaking."
'A bold, italicized font means Ichigo's inner Hollow is talking.'
Edited formatting: 2/2/18
The air previously filled with awkwardness suddenly thickened with palpable tension as Orihime, Uryū, Sado, Rukia, and Masaki stared at a furious looking Ichigo, fists clenched tight against his sides, angry amber eyes looking at no one in particular as he yelled at them from across the street.
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime gasped, wide eyed.
"Ichigo," Rukia whispered, violet irises wide as they landed on him.
Brief surprise shone on Masaki's face before it became impassive. Frowns appeared on Uryū's and Sado's faces.
"Why isn't she…" Ichigo demanded only for Uryū to cut him off.
"Isn't it obvious, Kurosaki?" Uryū said, his glasses flashing as he pushed them over the bridge of his nose. "If she's here and not in the custody of the Gotei 13, it's because the DNA results prove she's your daughter."
Ichigo froze.
Everyone stared at him, awaiting his next reaction, his words. Pressing her lips together, Rukia stared at him, anxiety briefly flashing in her eyes. Masaki merely looked at him.
Seconds ticked by, the tension thickening even more as Ichigo failed to stir or say anything.
"Then, what the hell is she still doing here?" Ichigo suddenly said, breaking out of his stupor, fists still clenched against his sides. "Why hasn't she used her so called time traveling device and gone back to the future?"
"Kurotsuchi couldn't fix it," Uryū began to explain.
"Couldn't fix it?" Ichigo repeated, his eyebrows knitting. "I wonder why? Because there's no such thing as a time travel device."
"But, Ichigo, the DNA results," Sado reminded him, hoping for his friend to see reason.
"That doesn't prove anything. Aizen had my blood all over his blade," Ichigo said dismissively, earning incredulous looks from his friends.
Masaki raised her right eyebrow slightly.
"Isn't that the way cloning works in movies?" Ichigo continued, ignoring the disbelief flashing across his friends' faces. "He really covered his tracks, didn't he?"
"But, Kurosaki-kun," Orihime protested, worry shining in her grey orbs. "Aizen didn't have Kuchiki-san's blood. Masaki-chan is real."
Ichigo grimaced, his eyebrows knitting so close together, giving off the appearance that they were connected. "He must have gotten a hold of it in Hueco Mundo or something. Why can't you guys see her for what she really is…"
"Ichigo!" Rukia said sharply, violet eyes angry. "Shut up!"
He stared at her, surprised, his scowl deepening even more.
"You're letting your emotions blind you," Rukia stated, violet eyes locking with his angry amber eyes. "She is not something that Aizen created to get under your skin. She is real. No matter how hard this is to believe."
Shaking his head, he said, "Can't you see she's a liar? There's no such thing as a time travel device. How can you believe her? Why do you think Kurotsuchi couldn't fix it?"
"Because he couldn't, it was too complicated for him," Rukia tried to explain. "But Urahara—"
"Why in the hell would he create something like that?" Ichigo shouted, interrupting her. "That's ridiculous."
Rukia took a step forward, her tiny form radiating with anger, hands balled up into fists, when she felt Masaki's hand on her shoulder.
"Don't Kuchiki-san," Masaki said, amethyst eyes peering into Rukia's violet orbs.
"Masaki, I have to make him see he's wrong," Rukia said. "He…"
"Let me handle this. I'll make him see the truth," Masaki said.
"But, Masaki," Rukia protested. "He isn't going to listen to you…"
"He will listen to me, I know how to handle him," she said confidently, releasing her hold on Rukia's shoulder. "Just let me, okay?"
Rukia stared at her uncertain and before she knew it, there was a hissing noise as Masaki reached towards her scabbard and pulled out her Zanpakutō.
"W-What are you doing, Masaki?" Rukia stared at her, surprised.
Masaki didn't reply, cool gaze on Ichigo, who had a smirk on his face. Uryū, Sado, and Orihime wore surprised expressions.
"See. I knew it," Ichigo declared. "He sent you to get me, didn't he?"
Without a word, Masaki leapt into the air, Zanpakutō high over her head, bringing it down over Ichigo, who had brought Zangetsu over his head to block her attack.
"See, you guys, she's trying to kill me," he shouted, pushing his blade against hers. "I don't know what she's been you telling while I've been gone, but it was obviously all an act, just like her little shy girl act. You were waiting for me to come back to show your real face, huh?"
Masaki was silent as they pulled away from each other. She swung her katana at a side arc, prompting Ichigo to twist his cleaver blade. Hand tightening over the hilt of her Zanpakutō, Masaki thrust her blade forcefully against Zangetsu, making Ichigo jump onto the roof of a house, away from the narrow street where his house was located.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Ichigo demanded, deflecting an incoming stroke.
"I have nothing to say to you," Masaki said, parrying his blow. "You obviously won't believe anything that I say, so just listen to my blade."
Ichigo stared at her over their crossed blades. "My father has always told me that he knows the heart of his enemies by their blade."
Amber eyes widened.
I've always thought that…but I've never told anyone…
Easily disentangling their blades, Masaki went on the offensive. "You tell me, if there is killing intent behind my blade."
Something stirred in her eyes as she attacked Ichigo. Momentarily stunned, his movements were sluggish as he tried to fend off the onslaught of her attacks. He was vaguely aware she seemed to know his moves, anticipating and deflecting blows faster than he was making them.
A particularly loud clang from their katanas echoed in Ichigo's ears as Masaki's Zanpakutō clashed against Zangetsu. A strange sensation began to fill his body, and all of a sudden, he heard his voice, a fleeting image of something he had never experienced or seen.
"C'mon, Masaki, let's go again," said an Ichigo, who looked like a young man of perhaps, nineteen or twenty, but despite that his amber gaze gave the distinct impression he was far older than he looked. His orange bangs were longer and the hair at the nape of his neck was somewhat long, as though he was starting to grow it out. He was wearing his Shihakushō, Zanpakutō clutched in front of him, eyes on an orange-haired girl with large violet eyes standing across from him.
Masaki's hair was shorter, pulled into a ponytail, and she had no bangs; she looked as old as she looks now. She wore a white kosode and red hakama, the Shinō Academy uniform. In her hand, she gripped her Zanpakutō. They were standing in a large empty room, brightly lit, wooden swords of varying sizes lining the center of the wall across from them. Behind Ichigo, at the far end of the room, was a heap of target practices used for Kidō, next to it a door.
"What was that? I told you not to give me any openings. Eyes on Zangetsu, you got that?" he said. "What's a matter, has the quality of your opponents at the Academy been dulling your skills?"
Masaki huffed. "Of course not. I'm just warming up," she explained, a smirk forming on her lips.
"Alright then." Ichigo matched her smirk.
Masaki jumped forward, their swords meeting with each other.
As fleeting as the image had come, Ichigo found himself holding his Zanpakutō, one hand on the hilt and the other on the blunt side, feet sliding on the roof of the house he was on; Masaki was forcing him back.
What the hell was that?
His heart began to jackhammer against his ribcage. He didn't have time to even contemplate it as Masaki slipped her blade underneath his, turning it onto its side, Ichigo immediately released his left hand away from his Zanpakutō's blunt edge.
Clang.
Ichigo instinctively parried and deflected her blows, each time seeing more images of their sparring until they stopped.
Beads of sweat were rolling down Masaki's forehead. Panting, she took a step back as her blade, which was now translucent white since she had released her Shikai, fell to the side as Ichigo slashed his katana downward.
Sweat glistened on Ichigo's forehead as well.
"Thought you were gonna beat me this time," Ichigo panted, holding Zangetsu out to the side. "What happened?"
Masaki just grimaced, annoyed, resuming her fighting stance.
"You fool," a voice called out behind him. "She's tired. Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Late?" Ichigo offered, sweat dropping. He didn't turn around.
"It's past midnight, idiot," Rukia said, standing in front of the door at the back of the room, dressed in a white robe. Her raven hair was longer, sweeping past her shoulders, and it was disheveled, as though she had been sleeping. Her body had more of womanly figure; she had gained weight in all the right places. She was just perhaps, a bit taller. She looked beautiful.
"Put away your katanas," Rukia ordered, crossing her arms over her chest, "and get to bed. That's enough."
"Do you always need to spar with your daughter every time she comes home?" Rukia asked, as Ichigo turned around to look at her, dropping Zangetsu to his side. "Why don't you let her rest? She works hard enough as it is at the Academy. You act as if she isn't at the top of her class in Zanjutsu."
"It's okay, Kaa-san, I don't mind. I like sparring with Tou-san," Masaki answered for him, as she went to the wall closest to her, retrieved the black scabbard propped on its side against it and slipped her katana into it.
"I have to keep on her toes," Ichigo said, running his fingers through his hair. "Those kids at the Academy barely even make a decent match, huh?"
Masaki, who was rubbing her sore shoulder, averted her gaze from Ichigo's. "Actually, some of them have improved. This one kid…Ohayashi Daisuke… He was really good the other day, really put a challenge…"
"But you beat him, right?" Ichigo asked, grinning.
Violet eyes still on the ground, Masaki said, "No, he beat me, and because Toshi won his match, it means I dropped to second."
"See, I told you your skills were slipping," Ichigo said.
Masaki's head snapped up. "They aren't slipping. It's like I said he was really good. He won fair and square."
"Who are you up against next?" Ichigo wondered.
"Toshi," she admitted.
"Is that so?" Ichigo smirked. "You totally have to kick his ass."
"Ichigo!" Rukia cried out.
Ichigo glanced at her, shrugging. "What? She does. She has to get her ranking back. The Kurosaki pride is on the line…Can't have a Hitsugaya outranks us…Tomorrow we're training again, alright?" he said, staring at Masaki. "You have to beat him, doesn't matter if he's your nakama."
"I know, Tou-san," Masaki said. "Toshi and I already talked about it. We aren't holding back."
"She doesn't need to train again tomorrow. She'll do fine," Rukia said, shaking her head. "Masaki, you should rest and ignore your father. Don't let him pressure you…"
"He isn't pressuring me," Masaki said. "I don't mind training."
"See? She's fine with it. You wouldn't be saying that if we were talking about Kidō," Ichigo accused, grinning.
Rukia's violet orbs sparkled with annoyance and amusement. "She always does fine, and I don't over train her like you do when she comes home. She'll be better off if she rests. She's already trained enough during the week and tonight. Do you think Toshi is training this weekend?"
Masaki snorted. "Toshi training when he goes home? As if. Only if his sister makes him."
"I swear I don't get where the kid gets its from," Ichigo chuckled. "He's nothing like Tōshiro or Momo-san. I'm telling you the wrong twin—"
"Masaki, Ichigo," Rukia interrupted him. "C'mon, it's time to head inside and go to bed. We'll see about tomorrow's training," she said. "Masaki, you should rest.
Ichigo and Masaki were heading towards the door walking side by side. Her head came above his shoulder.
"We're training tomorrow, okay?" he mouthed to Masaki.
Masaki nodded, grinning.
"Ichigo!" Rukia said, turning her head around.
He gave her an innocent look.
She shot him a look that clearly said 'I know what you just did.'
"I swear, Ichigo, sometimes it's like I have two children."
"I'm not a kid," Masaki objected.
"Neither is your father, but he still acts like it," Rukia pointed out.
Was that real? Ichigo wondered, heart thudding so loudly, he hardly heard the metallic noises their Zanpakutō were making. A sinking feeling began to gnaw at him. Why did I see those images?
"It's called Resonance," said a familiar male voice.
'Zangetsu no ossan?' Ichigo asked.
"When two Zanpakutō resonate, they tremble and they show their pasts. Yes, Ichigo, this is real. She and Hyōketsu Kiri have fought us before, or rather will fight us."
'She really is from the future then?' he said, his voice sounding shaken, guilty. 'She really is my d-d-daughter?
'I told you she was the Princess,' his Hollow reminded him, triumphant. 'I always tell you the truth even if you don't want to hear it…I have to say I like her style. Hope she rams you through with this next attack. You deserve it, you bastard.'
Ichigo blinked. While conversing with his Zanpakutō spirit and Hollow, he had blocked her attacks, but she had managed to slip past his defense, and the edge of her sharp blade was heading towards his stomach. He Shunpoed away, avoiding the attack just in time.
"Enough!" he shouted, panting, and dropping his head. He planted the tip of Zangetsu into the roof of the building.
S-She's my d-d-d-daughter?
His amber eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at the rooftop.
Rukia and I... we're together in the future? How the hell did that happen?
He didn't have feelings for her now, and he was pretty sure she didn't either. Or did she? There's no way the Midget had feelings for him…The way she always treats him….She seemed to be accepting the news well…but still…Damn, this was freaking weird…
Masaki stared at Ichigo, brief disappointment flickering across her face, but then acceptance as she sheathed her Zanpakutō. She walked until she was five feet away from him, watching him curiously.
Ichigo didn't look up.
The things I've said about my d-d-daughter… Denying her like my Hollow said… Accusing her of being a liar… A killer…What she must think of me…
He could feel his face starting to burn with shame.
I was such an asshole….
He had been following his brain, not his instincts, just like his Hollow had said when they had first started fighting. Despite what his Hollow had said about her being his daughter and what Ishida had said about the DNA results, he just couldn't bring himself to believe it because the very notion of a time travel machine was absolutely ridiculous.
Impossible.
Common sense dictated that it was an impossibility, something merely out of films and books. Not real life. The fact that it wasn't fixed held testament to that...
Spirits and Hollows he could accept. He could see them. Granted at first he had trouble believing in Hollows and Shinigami when a certain midget appeared in his life, but now it was a fact of life. Tell him he has to fight against the Gotei 13 and learn Bankai in three days time to save the aforementioned midget, not impossible. His Hollow is screwing with him, he'll take him head on. Tell him his friend has been kidnapped and taken to Hueco Mundo by Aizen. No problem. He'll go even if it is walking into the lion's den. Face countless battles against Espadas while there. He's fine with that. Learning he might be the only one that can stop Aizen from realizing his plans. Seems nearly damn impossible but he's willing to give it a shot and do whatever it takes to prevent him from succeeding.
Hearing someone saying she's his daughter from the future? What the hell? Aizen behind it to attempt to play some kind of sick joke for whatever reason sounded far more plausible. It was the only thing that made the most sense considering the manipulations he had done in the past, his supposed interest in him…
At least that's what he had thought.
"Gomen nasai," he said, orange spikes obscuring his blushing face. "I didn't believe you…"
"Forget it, I don't need your apology, Kurosaki-san," Masaki interrupted him. "Just as long as we're clear, I'm not working for Aizen Sōsuke, okay? Besides, I needed the exercise."
She must have known this would happen, Ichigo thought.
"No, I really am sorry," Ichigo insisted. "The way…"
"I told you I don't need your apology," Masaki repeated. "I know it's hard to believe who I am. I don't blame you for not believing me, even now a part of me keeps thinking this is some kind of dream, but it's not. Gomen nasai for the way I pretended to be Kuroda Mai. I just figured it was easier to pretend I didn't know you if I acted like I was someone else. I never wanted you to find out who I was. And as far as the way I acted with Abarai-fukutaichō, you weren't exactly wrong for being suspicious. I never intended to talk to any taichō except for Kyōraku-taichō and Ukitake-taichō…I didn't think anybody else would listen to me." She paused for a moment and added softly, "You don't have to call me by my real name you can continue to call me Mai if you'd like or by my last name. It doesn't matter to me."
Ichigo tensed for a minute then said, "Gomen…"
"Stop. Didn't you hear me? I don't want your apology," she said, slightly annoyed. "If you really want to make it up to me…there's only one think I ask."
"What?" Ichigo wondered.
"If you have time, I'd like to fight you when you're actually focused," she admitted.
Ichigo's eyes widened slightly at her request, but he didn't have time to reply when he suddenly heard Orihime calling him.
"Kurosaki-kun!"
Slowly, Ichigo lifted his head, careful not to meet anyone's eyes as he looked out onto the street where his friends were.
"Masaki-chan!"
Rukia stared amazed watching as a Zanjutsu fight developed before her eyes between her future daughter and Ichigo. She wasn't quite sure what to think. She had wanted to go and beat Ichigo to a bloody pulp because she now knew without a doubt, with his insistence that Aizen had made Masaki to use against him, that he believed Aizen especially created her with his mother's face to bother him. Why else would he act so angrily? The night with Grand Fisher was the only time she had truly seen Ichigo angry… God, he was such an absolute idiot and asshole for the things he was saying. She couldn't believe he was so incredibly stupid and stubborn to not believe who Masaki was. To think she was married to this dumbass in the future…
Observing as the two orange-haired Shinigami fought, Rukia noticed Ichigo seemed a bit surprised, his movements slow, but he managed to block Masaki's strokes. She couldn't really hear what they were saying over the metallic noises filling the air, but she could tell Masaki definitely knew Ichigo's movements, blocking and anticipating each movement he made. She felt as though she were watching a well-rehearsed dance, the chimes of their clashing blades providing the music to a beautiful art form. The katana in Masaki's hand seemed to be a natural extension of her arm, gracefully articulating every movement she directed it to do.
Masaki had told her that it was her father that had helped her improve her Zanjutsu when she had noticed her scars. Now she was beginning to think she had lied about that too. Perhaps, she had been more of a natural like her father when it came to Zanjutsu. She probably had just wanted to make up an excuse for why she had gotten the scars which she obviously had gotten due to her experience as a Shinigami.
Is she trying to prove she knows him by fighting him?
As the fight progressed, she noticed Ichigo's form start to slip. He didn't seem that focused. She wondered if he was beginning to believe her, if perhaps, the realization of what he had done, of who she was starting to sink into his idiotic brain…
And then suddenly he called off the fight when Masaki was close to cutting him; secretly a part of Rukia had wished he had been stabbed. She could see them conversing a bit and Ichigo's red face.
Part of her heart rejoiced in his shamed face, but still that wasn't quite enough to rectify his stupidity. She still felt like smacking him.
A little bit off to her right, she could hear Uryū saying, "Incredible, now he believes her. Does that idiot only understand things through violence?"
"Looks like Masaki-chan does know him," Orihime murmured.
Sado grunted in agreement.
Looks like she does, Rukia silently agreed.
After a few moments, Orihime decided to call out to them.
Masaki stared at Orihime, Uryū, Sado, and Rukia on the street below. Ichigo was also looking at them.
"Is everything okay now?" Orihime asked.
"Do you believe her now, Kurosaki?" Uryū asked, his tone still sounding incredulous.
"Yeah," Ichigo muttered, his face still pink. "Gomen for the way I acted…."
Uryū glanced at him, blue eyes shining with something like sympathy and incredulity. "You should be…I told you Aizen wasn't behind her appearance."
"Yeah, well, since when do time travel machines exist?" Ichigo snapped.
Uryū glared at him, but didn't say anything else.
Picking up Zangetsu, Ichigo slipped it into its place on his back, then said, "What do you mean Kurotsuchi can't fix your device?" He didn't look at Masaki as he said this, he merely stared out into the distance.
"I can't go back because Kurotsuchi-taichō said he wasn't familiar with the energy source required to power the device. He said it would take a while, months or years to try to replicate it. I have to wait until after the war is over before Urahara-san can take a look at it. I think he probably has a better idea of how to fix since he is the inventor."
"Why do you have to wait until then?" Ichigo cried out. "Can't you go to him now?"
"No, I can't," Masaki replied. "I don't know where he is. All I know is that he's most likely in Rukongai, but it's far too big to search... And, besides, I don't want to bother him…I would just be interrupting him from doing whatever he's supposed to be doing…"
Ichigo was looking as though he was in deep thought, then exclaimed, "I think I know where he is."
Masaki and the others stared at him.
"He's probably in western Rukongai…Probably with Shiba Kūkaku."
"Why would he be there?" Uryū wondered.
"Aizen told me on Sōkyoku Hill….The first time I'd ever seen him that he knew we'd be coming from western Rukongai because that's Urahara's base of operations. See, you don't have to wait M-Mai, you could go back to where you belong. We just need to find Kūkaku-san's place. She always moves."
Ichigo could feel the stares intensify from his friends, because he had said the name Mai. He knew it was stupid, that anybody could have that name, but he couldn't bring himself to say it, to even look at her. He found this whole situation surreal and embarrassing. He'd be glad the sooner she was gone the better…Things were definitely going to be weird between Rukia and him from now on though…
"No, I'm not going to look for him," Masaki said after a moment's pause; her eyes had flashed with longing briefly. "And neither are you guys. I'm going to the Seireitei just as Yamamoto-sōtaichō ordered and staying there for the time being."
"W-What? But I'm telling you Urahara-san is mostly likely there," Ichigo said. "This is your chance to go back."
"Of course, I want to go back," Masaki said, "But like I said, I'm not going to interrupt him. I don't want to change things…I don't want this war to be ruined because of me…Urahara-san is there because he's still working on finding out why Aizen has been altering Hollows… As much as I hate this…I have to stay and wait until one day I can return back to my time," she explained, her gaze becoming solemn.
"B-But," Ichigo protested. "You can't stay…You need to go back… People are going to notice you're missing…"
Masaki sighed. "I'm hoping once Urahara-san fixes my device, he can send me back to the point in time before I used the device, that way nobody would ever notice I was missing. But, like I said, I'm going to have to wait for the day he can do that… I think the only people that'll most likely notice I'm gone are my taichō and my nakama… I have an excuse for this week," she explained, her eyebrows knitting slightly, "…but I'm hoping my taichō will continue to make up excuses while I'm gone…Some secret mission or something…"
Ichigo briefly stared at her out of the corner of his eye, suddenly remembering that she had said she was a fukutaichō.
She's a fukutaichō. So, I guess based on what I saw in the images…We live in the Soul Society…
He felt odd thinking back to what he saw. Does that mean I'm in one of the divisions too? When did this happen?
"I don't live with my parents," Masaki explained. "I live in my division's barracks. I usually go over to their house on the weekends, but if I don't go, my father will know why…" she said, staring into the sky.
She's definitely taking care not to act like I'm related to her… Ichigo thought.
A silence suddenly fell.
"We should probably head to the hospital," Rukia spoke, glancing at Uryū, Orihime, and Sado, then Masaki, on the roof, careful not to look at Ichigo. He wasn't even looking in her direction anyway. "You guys need to eat…and maybe Masaki it'll be time for you to go to the Soul Society."
"Okay, Kuchiki-san." Orihime nodded.
"Let's go," Uryū agreed.
Masaki jumped down to the ground to join them, standing beside Rukia.
"Ichigo, are you coming?" Sado asked, when the substitute Shinigami didn't make any movement.
"Uh, yeah, sure," he said distractedly, jumping down to the ground to stand a little off to Orihime's right.
"Kurosaki-kun, are you okay?" Orihime wondered.
Ichigo nodded. "I'm fine, Inoue. Let's go."
He began to walk away from her while she stared at him slightly worried. Uryū, Sado, began to walk alongside her.
"C'mon, Inoue-san, let's go," Uryū said, smiling slightly. "Looks to me like Kurosaki's tired from his training and just in shock that's all."
"Right," Inoue agreed, brightening. "This is very shocking news…Now Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san know their future! I'm glad Kurosaki-kun believes Masaki-chan now…" Her voice trembled slightly. "Wow, Urahara-san is so amazing! I can't believe he created a time travel device…That's so cool… I always wanted to know how my future would be…"— For an instant, her grey eyes glittered with disappointment— "I wonder if I ended up becoming a robot… or something cool like that…"
Uryū and Sado gave her weird looks but she didn't notice.
"I wonder how Karakura Town looks like now…" she mused.
"Kurosaki-san must know," Uryū said, glancing at Masaki and Rukia, who were walking a couple feet parallel to them. Ichigo was walking ahead of everyone.
She must know a lot of things… Uryū thought. This is history for her…Looks like what Urahara-san is doing is important…I wonder if her appearance here will really affect her future like movies hypothesize… I hope everything turns out okay….It's obvious, Aizen was defeated…Does Kurosaki even realize this? Or is he still stunned by the fact that he ends up with Kuchiki-san? I think it's odd he didn't seem surprised when Inoue-san mentioned Kuchiki-san's blood. I could have sworn the idiot didn't know who the mother of his future daughter was…Guess it must have hit him later when his anger died down…God, he's such an idiot…Trust a Shinigami to settle everything by a katana…I wonder why he still called her Mai? Did he forget her real name? He is terrible with people's names, but why didn't Kurosaki-san correct him?
"Oh, you're right, Ishida-kun," Orihime said. "I should ask her." Without another word, she went over to the Shinigami women.
"Oi, Kurosaki!" Uryū said, increasing his pace to catch up with the orange haired substitute, Sado at his side.
Ichigo turned around, his normal scowl in place. "What?"
"Is your Hollow under control now?" Uryū asked.
Ichigo looked relieved, as though he had expected Uryū to talk to him about Masaki.
"Yeah, he is," Ichigo answered. "I'm fine now."
"Good," Uryū said.
Ichigo merely continued to look straight ahead of him.
Sado was glad Ichigo was calm, that the anger he had been carrying in him had dissipated. Sure, he was still shocked, which he couldn't blame him for but still it was good to see his friend close to normal. He had been very surprised to see Ichigo react so angrily, so furious to the news of who Masaki was... It was definitely the most unusual and surprising thing he had ever heard in his life too…Urahara-san was most definitely an incredible genius…
He just knew something was bothering his friend greatly; he just wasn't quite sure what. Ichigo's continued insistence that Masaki was created by Aizen even with the DNA test was further proof, that something wasn't right with him, something was bothering him…Something other than the fact that Masaki was claiming to be his daughter…
He didn't think it was due to Kuchiki-san being her mother. He had to admit he believed Ichigo had been clueless as to who the mother of Masaki was when they had left the Gotei 13 meeting…He must have figured it out when he controlled his anger…The training must have helped him relieve his stress he supposed…
No, it had to have been something else.
Kurosaki Masaki
That name. Yes, it had to do with her name. He was sure of it. It seemed familiar…And, Ichigo still called her Mai even after accepting her identity…. As he continued to mull the idea over, he suddenly understood.
I think that name belonged to his mother…I think I heard him say it once…or his father…
Ichigo never talked about her; he knew it was painful subject for him. That had to be the reason why he didn't want to use that name… Masaki didn't seem bothered by his use of the name Mai…Maybe she understands why…Maybe while they were up on the roof, they discussed that…
Watching them fight had been interesting. It was clear Ichigo had been surprised, resulting in him fighting off his game. He supposed it was because Masaki knew how to fight against him…Proving she was his daughter…Must have stunned him…Or what she had said to him…
He didn't particularly find it surprising that Ichigo ended up with Kuchiki in the future. He knew Ichigo wasn't interested in her now…but still Kuchiki was the only girl Ichigo had ever shown any kind of interest…Granted it wasn't a dating interest, but still ever since Kuchiki had appeared in his life…He could see Ichigo's bond with the petite Shinigami…It was strong…No matter how much they argued and bantered, he could see they cared about each other…
He felt slightly bad for Inoue. Seeing the way she ran off after Ichigo had left, he knew it was because she was sad because of the news…She had feelings for Ichigo…Which explained why she always seemed extremely worried about Ichigo...It wasn't just because of her caring nature…
Overall, he felt it was better that she now knew that she wasn't going to be with Ichigo…He was sure Ichigo didn't see her that way…
He was quiet, but he did take notice of how people acted.
Rukia stared at Ichigo out of the corner of her as he came to stand near Orihime; he talked to her briefly and then moved away from her, walking ahead of everyone, not even bothering to glance at Rukia or Masaki as he did so.
Masaki glanced at her and said quietly. "Well, I told you I would make him believe me, Kuchiki-san."
Rukia nodded.
Masaki began to walk, and Rukia followed her.
"You practiced a lot with your father, didn't you?" Rukia asked, matching her quiet voice.
"I did," she said. "Yeah, ever since he started training me…we've always sparred…I've always enjoyed it. I've never been able to beat him once though…He never lets me…He always finds a way to show me up…or someone interrupts our match…" Masaki admitted. "I really hope to beat him one day…I think he doesn't want me to beat him just because he thinks I'm going to stop working hard, which is ridiculous, I'm always going to train to get stronger and better…And deep down he knows it too."
Masaki stared at Ichigo's back. "He's probably freaked out, because of what he saw when our Zanpakutō resonated. I don't know what he saw, but either way he must have been surprised to have seen what he saw."
Rukia glanced at Masaki, surprised. In the recesses of her brain, she knew she had heard of the term Resonance before. She had never experienced it herself though.
Rukia then stared at Ichigo. "He must be…But he's such idiot…I can't believe he still thought…"
"Kuchiki-san, it's okay," Masaki said. "He already apologized, although like I told you earlier, I don't need his apology…I think I understand why he reacted the way he did…
She's probably an Arrancar like Gramps said…She probably doesn't even look the way she does…" Ichigo's voice quivered slightly
"I know who I remind him of…"Masaki admitted.
Orihime appeared by Masaki's side at that moment, hearing the last part of their conversation.
"His mother, my grandmother," Masaki said, a thoughtful gleam appearing in her eyes.
A young Masaki, around 7 or 8 years old, dressed in a lilac kimono speckled with white polka dots sits on her knees, staring across a pond before her, glittering with gold as the sun's final rays touches its surface. Her hair rests on her shoulders and it is adorned with a matching lilac hair band. Beside her, sitting cross-legged is Ichigo, wearing a long sleeved white haori over his Shihakushō. His orange spiky hair looks as it does now. He looks like a nineteen or twenty year old, but his eyes radiate maturity. Frowning in concentration as he peers into the pond, he clutches a stick in his right hand, which he is waving in front of him.
"Look there's a blue koi right there," he suddenly points his stick, waving it excitedly. "I knew they were around here somewhere, they're just shy that's all," he explains, grinning. "Do you see it?"
He points towards the middle of the pond where a light blue koi swims behind a red koi.
Masaki looks in the direction he's pointing, but her lips are tightly drawn, her eyebrows knitted, her violet eyes pensive and merely says in a hollow voice, "Yeah, I see it, Tou-chan."
"Oi! What's wrong, Shortie?" He turns to gaze at her, frowning. "You don't like the koi I brought you?"
"I like it," she replies, giving him a weak reassuring smile.
Continuing to stare at her, he says, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," she says.
"Don't say that. I know something's bothering you. What is it?" he says concerned, turning his head to look at her.
Uncertainty crosses her face, and she chews her lip hesitantly.
"What is it? You know you can tell me anything, right?" he says softly, amber gaze peering into her large violet eyes, as he drops the stick to the floor in front of him, close to the pond's edge.
"My brothers," she began, sadness coating her voice,"you know, when I used to live with Aya-baa-chan. "
He reaches out, placing his large hand over her tiny shoulder as a comforting gesture, his amber gaze glittering with sympathy. He asks gently, "What about them?"
"They died because of me, didn't they?" she whispers, eyes downcast. "Because I was different…"
Ichigo visibly tenses and before he can say anything she continues speaking in a soft, pained voice, "I heard Kaa-chan say today that monsters come when people are different when…
Ichigo closes his eyes, clenches his jaw for a fraction of a second, and takes a deep breath. Opening his eyes, he cuts her off saying in a definite voice, "It wasn't your fault."
"It was…I know I'm different…I've heard you and Kaa-chan talk about it…" she says, violet eyes beginning to water.
"Masaki," he says gently, his right hand's grip tightening over her shoulder, but she refuses to look at him, keeping her head inclined and facing the pond, tears cascading over her cheeks. Releasing his hold on her shoulder, he places the tip of his right index finger underneath her chin, turning her head towards him and tilting it, saying softly, "Look at me, Masaki."
Slowly, she turns her watery eyes at him and sobs.
"They didn't die because of you," he repeats firmly. "Those monsters just appeared because that's what they do… They appear… It's the job of Shinigami like me and your mom to get rid of them. What you heard your mom say was that those monsters sometimes get attracted by really strong people like Shinigami, but those monsters aren't a match for them." He grins slightly and seeing the questioning look in her eyes he adds, "Masaki, you aren't different, you're special just like your mom and me."
"What do you mean?" Masaki wonders.
"You see only certain people are special enough to be a Shinigami and because your mom and I are Shinigami, you could be one too. Maybe someday, if you'd like. But it wasn't you that attracted those monsters, your power is very tiny compared to mine. It was probably because of me. Remember, I was there in the area when I found you."
"Gomen nasai that I didn't get there on time to protect your brothers, I really am," he says, amber eyes flashing with guilt,"but…you know they're not really gone."
"They're not?" Masaki repeats sniffing.
"No…because I killed those monsters remember?"
She nods.
"When a Shinigami kills the monster, then all the people it killed will be born again. Your brothers they'll be born again."
"They will be? Will I be able to see them?" she asks, eyes brightening, sounding hopeful.
"One day you will," he promises, "but not yet…it takes time for them to be born again and grow. Don't ever feel guilty about what happened, it wasn't your fault okay?" he says, amber gaze staring intently into her violet orbs as he lets go of her chin and brushes away her tears with his thumb.
"I…"he begins hesitantly, as he brushes away her tears on her other cheek,"when I was a bit older than you, I also saw a monster except he didn't look like a monster. He was using a disguise, and I got near him…. But my mom protected me from it… She died protecting me," he admitted softly.
"I thought it was my fault. I thought she had died because of me. I blamed myself for the longest time, but then I realized she did it to protect me because that's what mom's do. She was just being brave. She wanted me to be safe and …to live… You know, you have her name Masaki."
"I do?" she asks.
He nods, his eyes brimming with emotion.
"You look like her too. And you know why I gave you her name?"
Masaki shakes her head.
"Because, I want you to be brave and strong just like she was, okay?"
Masaki nods after a moment and says, "I wish I could have met her."
"Me, too, Shortie." Ichigo half-smiles, sadness flickering across her amber eyes. "But I want you to understand that that monster didn't come because of you, okay? It wasn't your fault. Don't ever feel guilty, okay?" he repeats again.
Masaki stares at him, nodding slowly.
"I'm really sorry you had to see that monster," Ichigo says, his voice brimming with emotion, "I'm sorry that your mom and I weren't there for you…"
"I know, Tou-chan," she says as though she has already heard his explanation before.
"You know that I'm always going to protect you, right? That no one or nothing will ever hurt you or take you away from me, okay?" His gaze bores down on her, his hand lowering to her shoulder, which he grips tightly. "You're safe with your mom and me, okay? You don't have to worry about monsters. I love you, Masaki."
Masaki nods, "I know, Tou-chan. I love you too. Don't be sad."
A pained ironic smile breaks out across his face. He then releases his hold on her and stares out into the pond, and she does the same. A few moments pass, before Masaki says.
"Tou-chan, I want to be a Shinigami when I get older, I want to protect people too."
"Is that so?" He smirks, his amber eyes glittering with amusement, the guilty and sad look in his eyes abating.
Masaki nods. "I want to be a Shinigami just like you, Kaa-chan, Karin-oba-chan, Uki-jii-chan —"
He ruffles her hair, cutting her off.
"We'll see when you get older, okay? You know you don't have to decide right now."
"But, I do want to, and I know I am going to be a Shinigami," she says, a smile breaking out across her features.
Content to see her smiling, he grins and says, "The Midget—I mean your mom is home, let's go in and eat dinner."
"Kaa-chan doesn't like it when you call her that," Masaki points out matter of fact.
Standing up, he dusts himself off and reaches for Masaki, who also stands up.
"Ah, she's just jealous that I gave you a prettier nickname," he explains, reaching for her hand.
"Why?" she asks, as she slips her tiny hand into his much larger one.
"Because that's just the way it is, she's my Midget and you're my Shortie," he says it as though it were a fact.
"Oh," Orihime said softly, and Rukia turns her gaze from Masaki to the recently arrived auburn haired girl.
"You know about his mother?" Rukia asked in the same soft tone.
"Tatsuki-chan told me about how she died…"Orihime admitted."So, that's why Masaki-chan doesn't resemble you…"
Rukia nodded. "And why Ichigo called her Mai. Masaki was his mother's name…"
Rukia then glanced at Masaki, who seemed to be lost in thought. "Masaki…"
She blinked then said, "Hai, Kuchiki-san…What is it?"
"Are you allowing him to call you Mai?" Rukia wondered. She was surprised that Masaki hadn't corrected him when he uttered that name.
Masaki nodded. "I am…I don't mind…that name"—her eyes seemed to be far away for an instant"It's okay, I don't mind it…My father doesn't even call me by my first name most of the time…only when he's mad or …"
"Then, what does he call you?" Rukia wondered.
"He still calls me by my childhood nickname," Masaki admitted, embarrassed. "Shortie."
"That's cute," Rukia said, sounding slightly jealous.
"It is," Orihime said softly.
"It's embarrassing," Masaki countered, earning stares from the two women surrounding her. "I don't mind if he calls me that when I'm at home or in front of my nakama. They know how he is…but I don't like it when he says 'Oi, Shortie! when I run into him in the Seireitei or he when he calls me by my nickname in front of my subordinates—It's embarrassing. Not that they'll ever say anything to my face, they know better, but still…He acts like I'm still a little kid…" Her gaze darkened suddenly.
"I think it's really sweet of him," Orihime said.
Masaki turned to Rukia. "My mother gets mad at him too…because he would always call her Midget when he would see her…
Rukia's eyebrow twitched. The fool calls me Midget…How dare he? He gives her a cute nickname…I have to admit she's lucky she's taller than me…
Masaki grinned slightly noticing the dark haired Shinigami's reaction. "I think it's gotten through to him after so many decades of beatings not to call my mother Midget, but he still does it…Although not as often…"
"Decades?" Orihime repeated.
Rukia and Masaki looked at her.
"Inoue, you know Shinigami can live a very long time," Rukia explained.
"Oh, that's right," Orihime as if she suddenly remembered. "Gomen, I…forgot…How old are you, Masaki-chan?"
"How old are you, Inoue-san?" Masaki asked.
"Um, 15 no 16. I didn't even realize my birthday passed already," Orihime replied. "With everything that has happened."
Masaki looked thoughtful for a moment as though she was calculating something. Rukia stared at her, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Well, I'm way older than that despite my appearance. Your age, Inoue-san, is nearly a sixth of what I've lived."
"Oh," Orihime said.
The girls were silent as they continued walking; they could see the guys who were ahead of them weren't talking.
"So, Masaki-chan, how does Karakura Town look in the future?" Orihime asked the question she had originally wanted to ask when she came over to them. "Are there flying cars? Do robots do everything? Do people live in the moon?"
Masaki blinked at her, confused.
"I think she means if there's been many improvements compared to the way you see things now," Rukia translated.
"Well, it's been a while since I've been to the World of the Living…" Masaki began, pondering Orihime's question. "I'm a fukutaichō…I'm not allowed to go there unless there's a mission or I get some time off, but even then, I have to deal with getting a limiter…"
"A limiter?" Orihime repeated.
"Shinigami that are fukutaichō or taichō class get restrictions placed on their Reiryoku when they enter the World of the Living," Rukia explained.
"Oh, okay. So, Masaki-chan, going to the Urahara Shōten to run that errand for your taichō was the first time you've been to Karakura in a while," Orihime said.
Masaki wrinkled her brow for a second as she stared at Orihime, then said, "Hai, Inoue-san. I didn't get to see anything because I went straight to Urahara-san's. But from what I do remember from my last visit…Karakura has gotten really big, it's a city now actually."
Masaki proceeded to tell them how Karakura had changed as they continued walking towards the hospital.
AN: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I'm aiming for realism, so give Ichigo some time to warm up to Masaki. Wow, it's actually a year since this idea was born, which technically isn't so small. I do know how the future looks like (Gotei 13 wise at least.) it's a matter of making it like that, that's hard. Next month, it'll officially be a year since I posted the story. Time sure flies and I'm barely beginning to tell the real story.
As soon as I saw this line in the manga Chapter 399 Ichigo to Gin:
"I'm not saying I don't remember your blade. I'm saying I don't remember your heart. When you cross blades, you can tell a little of what your opponent's thinking. I'm not saying you can read their mind or anything like that, but you can tell what kind of resolve lies behind their blade, whether they respect you or look down on you. That kind of thing, you can tell. When I'm actually fighting, there's no time to think about it, so I don't usually realize until afterwards, but in general, the stronger the opponent is, the more of that "heart" seems to come across."
I knew I had to use it, knew Ichigo had to fight Masaki to accept who she is because that's the relationship they've always had. In the end, I ended up using that line as well as doing my own variation on the resonance scene occurring in the Bleach Diamond Dust Rebellion movie. As tribute, I decided to reveal Hitsugaya's kids, which I alluded to in Ch 8.
Anyways, I hope you guys have happy holidays! I'm planning on doing art based on Masaki's childhood flashback, so I'll let you know when I submit that on my deviantart page.
Next chapter, everyone's fave pink haired Eleventh Division fukutaichō is scheduled to make appearance, and she just wants to play a game with 'Ichi's baby'! Anybody interested, in reading about a game of shunpo tag with fukutaichōs, Masaki, Ichigo…I'm trying to include a lighthearted moment, but it's up to you guys how much I write about it…Let me know in your review if you wanna read that.
Quick Glossary:
Otou-san-father
Kaa-san- mom
Tou-san- dad
Kaa-chan-mommy
Tou-chan-daddy
Kaa-san- mom
Baa-chan-granny/grandma
Oba-chan-aunty
Jii-chan- grandpa
Reiryoku-spiritual power/spirit energy
Please don't forget to leave a review! They keep me motivated! It's all I want for the holidays! (Hint Hint).