She didn't linger too long in the abyss.
Her sixth sense… sensing spiritual pressure woke her up.
It felt like someone roughly grabbed the front of her clothes and dragged her out of the warm water and out into the biting cold air.
She sat up so fast that it scared everyone around her. Apparently, all the humans gathered around Katsuko and Matsumoto after Ichigo forcefully dragged Aizen away from the streets and to the outskirts of town. Her soul was urging her to go and see what was happening over there. However, she was literally wrestling Matsumoto, Jun, Haruki and Aiza as they refused to let go near there.
"You need to rest!" Matsumoto shouted.
"Get off!"
"You've done enough!" Jun snapped. "Just sit your ass down and be good!"
"I'm not going to fight!"
"Then you wanna die?!" Haruki pried her hand off his face.
"I-I just wanna see!"
"See what?!" Aiza freaked, snapping her head back to look at the others in a panic. "Someone get her sword away from her!" Keigo obeyed Aiza and took her sword away before she could even think of picking it up again. Seriously, she needed to just lie down and rest!
Ryouto watched from the sidelines with the others as the comical scene took place. From the way she was acting, all frantic like this… it almost like she wanted to see someone at the hospital.
"What's all this roughhousing?" An easy going voice cut through the shouting, forcing them all to look towards the owner. It was Urahara without his hat on, casually making his way towards them. He stopped a few feet away from and took in the way they were trying to restrain her. Ah. But there was no need to do that. He took one look at Gin who was sitting beside the car he slammed into, simply watching as he always did, before looking back at Katsuko.
Urahara didn't know the full extent of her condition. However, he understood that it was because of the name 'Naogoma Shisugu' that Aizen spoke of. If he took all the information he gathered prior to her abduction, the new way she fought with Kido, and then label it with the name that Aizen mentioned…
If he eliminated the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth.
"Do you want to go? The fight is nearly over."
"Wha…?!" Aiza gaped, hugging Katsuko when she sat up the moment everyone's hold loosened. "Noo! She's done enough! No more!"
"I want to see…! I have to see the outcome!" Katsuko ignored Aiza, giving Urahara a pleading look to take her there.
To Hiragi Katsuko, it was important to witness the outcome no matter what.
No, it wasn't Hiragi Katsuko begging to be by her friend's side… it was Hiragi Katsuko begging to see Aizen Sousuke, the side of Hiragi Katsuko that used to know Aizen Sousuke.
Katsuko's eyes widened a little when she saw Urahara hold out his hand to her.
"Shall we go? To witness the outcome?"
Ryouto, who had been watching from the sides, pried off Aiza with ease who protested as Katsuko clumsily got up and took Urahara's hand. Instantly, they vanished, leaving a small breeze brushing against those who were left behind.
"Why did you do that?!" Aiza glared at Ryouto who simply stared back at her calmly. He didn't know why the two girls were completely identical, but their expressions said so much about how they felt, solidifying his thoughts about the Katsuko with ash blond hair.
"I don't think she wants to fight. Didn't you hear her? She wants to see something. That's the face someone makes when they need to be there for someone."
"Ichigo?" Keigo and Mizuiro guessed.
"He must be important to her." Ryouto concluded.
…
…
…
Urahara Kisuke was right.
The outcome of the fight was taking place.
After using flash step to make it there, she told Urahara to go on ahead since it looked like he was also eager to see the conclusion. But her body was slower from the overexertion and she didn't want to impede him. She would make it there on his own.
And when she made it, she found Aizen being slowly wrapped in solid white substance with several red glowing crosses piercing through his back. Ichigo was on his knee, looking quite disheveled and just as worn out as her.
Ichigo found it hard to miss the way she looked at Aizen. Should she even be walking around? Matsumoto did certainly heal her and her lifeforce felt much more stable… But still…
Aizen's eyes dark brown eyes met her own when he whipped his head to look at her. Katsuko's gaze softened at his appearance, shorter dark brown hair with normal skin. One would have thought she was looking relieved to see him with lost composure because he was losing his powers…
They would have been wrong.
Ah… that's the one I recognize… I know this Aizen.
She could tell from the disappearing power.
"And you!" Aizen gritted his teeth. "It absolutely confounds me how degraded yourself! Held back by your own moral compass, look at what you were reduced to! All because you chose to be lesser than what you could have become!"
At that moment, Katsuko couldn't remember what he was referring to.
But she already had the answer in her other heart.
She knew very well what she felt in regards to his words.
"I found meaning in what I wanted to do in this world. There was also meaning in what you wanted to do too." Katsuko continued walking forward. Her voice didn't overlap with Shisugu's. This was her own voice and her own words. "I didn't mind falling back and doing things my way. In the end, it all came down to how we achieved it and if we succeeded. Everything had a meaning, everything."
He didn't like that answer.
It was a stupid answer.
That answer only proved him right.
Aizen barely had any time to breathe a syllable before the solid substance started enveloping him completely. Before his gaze disappeared from her own, she smiled softly and stretched out a hand to him like she used to back in that Academy, back to those days that were long gone and lost in time, forgotten to everyone but two souls.
Not even the fact that she shared a soul with one of them could unearth those memories as her own.
Her words and actions were driven by familiarity and the emotions from bygone days, the things that would never truly disappear in the trails of time so as long as the piece of her from back then remained with her.
Ichigo's eyes lingered on the way she relaxed her arm back to her side and solemnly stared at the cross.
It contradicted the words of Naogoma Shisugu back in the Garganta.
"Katsuko."
The call of her name and no one else's tore her eyes away from the giant cross that sealed Aizen away in it. She didn't realize her feet were still moving towards where Aizen was. She looked to the side and found Urahara and Ichigo watching her.
Ichigo was the one to call her back from the mixed feelings she was having. Even though she was glad Aizen was stopped, she couldn't help but feel regretful. That's why she was glad he called her back to pull her away from it, to remind her that she was Hiragi Katsuko, to unwove the threads of the past that weren't hers, as if to ground her back to her reality.
To bring her heart back to the surface.
His brows were furrowed in concern while still keeping one knee to the ground. She blinked with a jerk, eyes round with surprise when she seemed to have finally snapped out of it.
She took in the sight of Ichigo, for real this time.
If there was anyone here that she was close to then it was Kurosaki Ichigo, not Aizen Sousuke. That was an unchangeable reality.
That's why she didn't hesitate to start running over to him. He was about to get up until he noticed how she picked up the pace and basically dropped to her knees to hug him tightly, nearly throwing them down altogether.
"Oof—! Katsuko?!" Ichigo almost fell back upon contact. He blinked several times before looking down at her head. Her forehead was pressed against his skin and his torn Shihakusho. He couldn't see the way her eyes were wide with relief. She was relieved they were both alive, that everyone was alive, after everything that just happened.
Compared to the danger and fear she felt during Rukia's rescue, everything with Aizen and the Arrancars felt like a miracle to survive.
We're alive.
She hugged him tighter.
We're okay.
Eyes softening, Ichigo started patting her back she didn't let go of him right away. He was glad she recovered enough energy to show off her concern. "I'm okay, Katsuko. I'm okay."
"… I know. I'm just… glad we're all okay." She replied in a small voice.
Hearing that, Ichigo stopped patting her back and dropped his hand on her head, patiently waiting for her to calm down, smiling a little.
When she eventually pulled away, her eyes scanned his appearance, especially the long hair. "You've got the hair of a hermit. And just when I thought you couldn't get taller…"
His eyes crossed as he stared at his longer bangs. It wasn't something he was used to. He remembered a few times how they'd obscure his vision when he fought Aizen. "Effects of the Dangai." He replied simply just as she dropped her hands down. Thinking about his own hair reminded him of Katsuko's, he used the back of his hand to flick some of her hair that was hanging. "What about you? Your hair is lighter again."
"Effects of being Shisugu." Self-consciously, she reached back to touch her hair with both hands. "I hope it's not permanent though…"
Ichigo stood up while bringing her up with him just as Urahara started approaching them. Compared to him, their current attire made it look like they were put through the ringer.
But hold on…
"Ichigo… what's up with your powers? They feel off. They feel weaker." Katsuko bluntly spoke. Being up and close to him just now made it impossible to miss it, especially when she was so close to him just now. She needed to ask. He didn't look like he was hurt, so why was he like this?
Ichigo didn't answer as he looked down at himself, remembering just what the final battle had cost him.
It was Urahara who decided to speak up, him being all knowing and whatnot. Ichigo remained stoic looking at their old mentor explaining the Final Getsuga Tenshou and what it meant for him.
Ichigo had willingly sacrificed his Soul Reapers powers to defeat Aizen. They were fading away.
Katsuko looked back and forth between Urahara and Ichigo when she registered the information.
They weren't kidding.
Oh.
She didn't even hesitate to step forward.
"Then I can give him mines." Katsuko offered, a hand on her chest to emphasize her own Soul Reaper powers. Katsuko knew that there was no other option but herself. No one from the Soul Society would give up their powers, especially when they now knew that it was forbidden. She was just a Substitute Soul Reaper. She wasn't supposed to have these powers anyway. It was literally an accident filled with coincidences.
Looking at her as if she grew another head, Ichigo was surprised at how she readily offered her own like it was no big deal. Giving up her own meant to part ways with her Zanpakuto, someone she bonded with, a piece of her. He knew this all to well. Perhaps she didn't properly think of the consequences when she impulsively offered her own.
"I'm afraid that's not a good idea." Urahara shook his head, shutting down her proposal. "Your case is special, Hiragi-san. You had powers forced upon you by Naogoma Chisaki and then awakened your own through your past self, Naogoma Shisugu, who is now conscious within you. It's actually a very complicated situation. We don't know what might happen to you or Kurosaki-san if you transfer your powers to him."
"But…" Katsuko started to deflate.
"It's fine, Katsuko." Ichigo shook his head. "I appreciate it but… it's fine. I did this willingly. And… I don't want to take anything from you." He gave her a slightly smile with a shrug of his shoulder. "I can't do that."
And if it meant a risk to Katsuko, he wouldn't dare lean towards the idea.
Katsuko met his eyes, noticing the odd look in them. To her, he did not look satisfied with the outcome. No, he looked lost.
"But you don't look content. You look… sad. Why do you look sad?"
Ichigo was taken back when she hit home. Did it really look like that to them?
"I don't know. I'm not sure why."
Urahara was staring at him, agreeing silently with Katsuko's words. Indeed, despite the sacrifice he made to save the world, Ichigo looked a lot like a lonely child who had lost all his support.
"Everybody's lives, this world, they were all saved because you risked your life to defeat Aizen."
"I know." Ichigo's averted his gaze and looked towards Karakura Town in the horizon.
"You did the right thing. There's no need for you to be sad."
Katsuko slowly looked towards Urahara upon hearing those words. Sure, he was right, but for some reason, hearing him tell Ichigo he shouldn't feel sad about losing his powers didn't sit right with her. Ichigo always fought to protect something and his powers became the foundation for his actions.
And now he was losing them.
They started feeling spiritual pressures belonging to a number of Soul Reapers begin to gather in the town.
Urahara's gaze lingered on Ichigo for a little while longer before he turned towards the town. "The Soul Reapers stationed around the area to guard the town and civilians from Hollows are starting to gather. They, along with the court members in the World of the Living, need to be notified on the current state of things. Kurosaki-san, Hiragi-san, you can remain here and rest while I go on ahead. I will be back later."
"Wait, I'll head back down! I forgot my Zanpakuto with the others."
Ichigo blinked at her when she suddenly exclaimed that. "You forgot?" He sweat dropped.
"They confiscated it." She clarified.
Urahara didn't see any problem with that. She was free to do as she pleased. "While you're at it, you can show them to Aizen's seal."
"Oh, uh, sure."
They both looked at Ichigo who just shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. "I'll just stay here and rest. I'll just… keep an eye on the seal."
He needed some time alone with how confused he was feeling at the moment.
Katsuko's eyes lingered on him for a while before she nodded and started heading down to fetch her weapon while Urahara opened a Senkaimon on the spot to go to the Fake Karakura Town.
…
…
…
Almost timidly, she reappeared before her friends again, slowly walking forward when they noticed her. Near them, she saw some Soul Reapers gathered around Gin who was willingly allowing them to arrest him while Matsumoto watched. They soon started departing for the Seireitei, leaving just Katsuko and the humans by themselves.
Jun and Haruki were the first to move. They ran and hugged her tightly, silent but grateful that she was alive after everything that happened.
"I'm sorry." Katsuko decided to cut the silence and lowered her head. This was her chance to finally apologize for what she said to them after what felt like a long time. She wanted to explain and apologize a little more but Jun and Haru seemed more preoccupied with checking on her, shooting twenty one questions about how she fared, leaving no room for her.
"Are you sure you're okay to move around?" Haru wondered, remembering how she was struck by Aizen's blade when she fought in the air.
"… Uh, yeah. You'd be surprised at how tougher the body is in this form."
"Your hair is different!" Jun exclaimed, scooping up some of it to analyze it. How the hell did it turn ash blond when it was black only minutes ago?! "… Is that bad?"
"It's a very, very, long story."
"Where's Ichigo?" Arisawa asked when she didn't see Ichigo nowhere near them. Was he okay?
"Oh, uh." Katsuko pointed at the outskirts she just came back from when Haru and Jun released her. "He's back over there. He's, uh, resting."
"After going against a monster…" Jun remembered the overwhelming power Aizen pressured them with a scowl. "I think he'll need to rest."
"What's going to happen now?" Haru wondered when they saw more Soul Reapers approaching them after the initial group left.
"Uh, excuse me!" Katsuko lifted her hand to have their attention focus on her. "Um, Aizen is sealed right now. So, what do you want to do?"
A burly man with short red hair was the first to speak up. "Sealed?" He looked to where she pointed and the others spoke over each other in surprise at the size of that thing.
"The battle is over?"
"Aizen has been defeated?"
"Who defeated him?" The red haired man wondered.
"Kurosaki Ichigo." Katsuko replied flatly. "Bu, yeah. He's in big towering cross. So… I don't know how you want to transport this man because I assume you're going to have to arrest him, right?"
A short lady with round glasses moved around the group to talk with the red haired man. He was probably the leader of this unit. "Sir, I can get in touch with that unit Naogoma Tokuin is leading in order to get in touch with the Kido Corps."
"There's no need for that." A voice cut in. The owner was a man with short brown hair with white tips and he was accompanied by a taller man with ash blond hair with black tips, Mitsufuda and Tokuin. Mitsufuda was eating a rice ball, his own unit trailing behind him, he was appearing very easy going even though he was supposed to be in the middle of a war (which just ended), and he noticed the familiar face of Hiragi Katsuko.
"Hello, again, Hiragi-san. Glad to see you survived your Hueco Mundo kidnapping in one piece."
"Hello." Katsuko nodded her head, polite. Make that two pieces.
Tokuin closed his eyes and nodded as well with a quick bow, making her respond with her own quick bow of her head. Behind him were a group of Soul Reapers that were under their command.
"Anyway, we already contacted the Kido Corps for assistance the moment Tokuin noticed that big cross come up in the air. From where we were positioned, it was very hard to miss. I don't know how you guys missed it. You must have been stationed behind a small mountain."
"… Kinda." The short lady with glasses nodded.
"Ah!" Katsuko shouted when she remembered something, startling everyone. They all looked at her weirdly. "I also forgot to say that the Captains and Lieutenants in the Fake Karakura Town are injured because they were defeated. Captain Unohana is also there healing people. Soooo… there's also that."
"My Captain was defeated?" Mitsufuda blinked. "Oh dear. Alright, time to give Squad 4 the cue to head on over there to join Captain Unohana. Tokuin, you can handle that?"
"Mhm." The tall man quickly vanished with flash step without a word, leaving his group under his relative's command. Mitsufuda clapped his hands and alerted everyone to start preparing for Tenkai Kecchu before Captain Kurotsuchi decided to get creative if they were too slow by the time he returned.
That didn't need to be said twice!
They all scattered with flash step to get to whatever position to they needed to be at, leaving Mitsufuda behind as he finished the rest of his food.
"So," He looked at the group of humans who were watching Katsuko's interaction with the Soul Reaper. It was still so novel to them despite having experienced such a fiction event. "What about these humans that woke up? Do you know them?"
Everyone just stared back at him.
"Uh, yeah. You don't have to worry. Urahara Kisuke will be returning soon so he will be the one to handle it."
Of course, she lied. She didn't know what would happen next for them. But she hoped that they retained their memories of what happened even if it was terrifying.
"Hm, I see. That saves me the trouble." Mitsufuda stretched his arms over his head before rolling them back, signaling that he was now going to get to work. "Alrighty. Time to move. See you around, Hiragi-san~" He gave her a playful nudge and wink before flash stepping away, leaving all the humans with Katsuko.
To everyone else, it was clear that she was well acquainted with him. But she would argue that he was just the friendly type considering this was… her third time meeting him?
"What's going to happen now?" Mizuiro wondered. "You guys mentioned a fake town?"
"Is that why Karakura Town has been cut off from all other cities?" Arisawa spoke.
"What about Naruki City?" Keigo asked quickly, still holding her Zanpakuto.
"It's about a war, right?" Jun remembered what Aiza told them.
Katsuko sighed heavily. "Man… I realize that there's really a lot to unpack. But I'll try to keep that part short. Yes, there is a Fake Karakura Town. Why? Because that man you saw wanted to turn the city into an object because it just happened to be… uh," She wracked her brain to keep the Soul Reaper lingo out to avoid having them ask more question. "A hotspot for… power! So, the people wearing black kimonos, like the ones you saw, decided to create a fake a town to lure him there and make him think it was Karakura Town." She put her hands in a prayer motion and made a gesture to represent both towns. "But, well, he literally defeated everyone in the fake town. I was there, it was terrible."
"So… is that what the blue light was?" Honsho guessed, remembering how her skin felt like it was being ripped off. "He was turning… us and the town into something?"
Katsuko clapped her hand once and pointed at her. "Yes. But I stopped that, and then Ichigo showed up, leading it all up to now. Don't worry, he's defeated and they're going to throw him in jail or something. He's not going to hurt you guys again."
"Okay… but the town will be returned back to normal, right…?" Haruki asked hesitantly.
"Of course, I just don't know how."
"So, we'll be able to get home?" Keigo sighed in relief. The only reason he was in Karakura Town was because of school. He lived in Naruki City, the neighbouring one to Karakura Town.
Katsuko started walking over to Keigo to pat his shoulder and take back her sword to sheath it away. "Yep."
"But there's still more we don't know about. What exactly have you and Ichigo been doing all this time?" Arisawa stepped forward, still not satisfied without knowing the full truth. She felt she deserved to know after everything that happened so far. "It's not just you two. All five of you are involved in whatever this is."
She understood that the fake town was created to protect the real one. So then, who were these people in black robes that were capable of doing such a thing? What were they? What exactly was Ichigo and Katsuko if they were dressed in the same robes? What were those monsters? What were those people dressed in white that day?
"Hmm…" Katsuko looked to the side before looking towards where she came from. She could feel Soul Reapers gathering there. "I think it's better if Ichigo was here to explain it too. Do you want to go see him?"
When she looked at everyone, they all looked like as if they didn't know how to approach Ichigo as he was right now. They all looked very hesitant. How exactly do they do that? After all, he looked like a completely different person when he showed up in front of them.
He seemed unapproachable at the moment even though they had more questions.
"Maybe… now isn't the time." Mizuiro finally said, spotting a group of Soul Reapers running through a street. He could tell they needed to sit down and talk this topic but the current situation didn't seem ideal for it.
"You said he was resting, right?" Keigo frowned, unsure.
"Yeah… I mean, you have a lot to wrap up now, right?" Jun guessed. After Katsuko explained the whole Karakura Town thing, he came to understand that things were more complicated than he thought and figured the explanation wouldn't be done within five minutes.
Katsuko looked back at everyone, noticing how they all looked hesitant, unsure of their next move. Don Kanonji and Koumine Ryouto were watching the whole interaction quietly.
Perhaps Ichigo had to be the one to make the first move just like Katsuko just now. It would make things easier if he justreassured them it was still him despite how he looked.
"Alright then." Katsuko placed a hand on her hilt, nodding. She took a step back just as Aiza grabbed her arm and started hugging it. "Well, when this is all over, we can sit down and talk at the park or whatever with Ichigo." She told everyone as she eased Aiza off her after patting her head. "For now, you guys just sit tight. Don't go anywhere."
There was no protest as Katsuko waved her hand and nodded her head towards the non-Karakura High School student people, figuring she should at least acknowledge their presence. Don Kanonji didn't say anything (for once) but Ryouto waved his hand with a polite smile.
…
…
…
After she vanished, Ryouto laughed softly.
"She's pretty."
Out of all the things that could have been said at that moment, that was the last thing they expected to hear.
"Hah?" It caused Jun to turn his head and look at him as if he was a stain of his shirt. "Also, what hell are you?!"
"Ehh…"
Katsuko arrived at the outskirts to rejoin Ichigo and take a look at that was happening with Aizen's cross. To her surprise, it was already being transported away by Soul Reapers but also people wearing different uniforms that covered their faces. They weren't physically lugging it around. Kido was being used to transport it back to the Seireitei.
Ichigo was seated on a rock, watching them, when he heard Katsuko return. He greeted her return while she walked closer, stopping only when she was next to him. She didn't realize how fast they'd be moving to drag Aizen back to the Seireitei.
"Central 46 is the government… right?" Katsuko spoke, eyes still fixated on the cross. "So, who's going to sentence him when they get him there?"
"Ah, right." Ichigo remembered that detail. "Renji said the old man was making the decisions until Central 46 wasn't vacant." He scratched the back of his head. "They're probably gonna heal him first before—"
"Central 46 is no longer vacant."
Ichigo looked on his opposite side an found a tall man in a Shihakusho. He had sandy blonde hair that leaned to the left side and fell near his ears. His eyes were revealed to be teal when he looked their way.
However, his eyes immediately expressed disdain the moment they landed on Katsuko's face.
"Damned Naogoma." He said it like it was poison. His face darkened and basically bared his teeth when he gritted them at her.
...
...
...
HUH?!
Ichigo's eyes narrowed in in confusion while Katsuko was just flabbergasted at how this man didn't bother to hide it. It was obvious this guy mistook Katsuko for Chisaki… But come on! Even if her hair was like this, Chisaki's hair was freaking brown! And her eyes were blue!
"What, are you the one who sealed Aizen away?" He scoffed. "I find that feat hard to believe, especially for such a mediocre branch member. Or are you just trying to steal credit to try and boost your sad status as a second-rate Kido practitioner? Absolutely pathetic."
Katsuko didn't even know if she should feel offended with how he spoke to her like as if she was dirt beneath his feet. His face, his tone and his posture gave away his obvious arrogance.
"Oi." Ichigo decided to stop him right there. Even if he made a mistake, he didn't like how downright disrespectfully this guy's tone was. "Do you need to get your eyes checked?"
"Excuse me?" He held up his chin, offended.
"Did I stutter?"
"I don't know if Naogoma Chisaki would take that personally because my name is freaking Hiragi Katsuko." She deadpanned with the most passive aggressive tone.
The man paused when the name registered in his brain. His eyes went back and forth between the two unamused teens. Like a flip of the coin, his face regressed back to his initial neutral expression and then looked towards the cross being carried away.
"Ah, the Substitute Soul Reapers from a while back." He realized. The word of a human lookalike to Naogoma Chisaki did not escape him back then. "Kurosaki Ichigo and Hiragi Katsuko. Were you the ones who defeated Aizen Sousuke?
"No." Katsuko flatly replied. "He did." She lazily pointed at Ichigo, not sure why she should entertain this man with a response. Honestly, she didn't feel like talking to him. His arrogance said volumes about his character when she knew Chisaki was a kind person. Replaying what he said earlier, he seemed more annoyed with her last name.
"Then who sealed him away?"
"Urahara Kisuke." Ichigo replied, his tone sounding just as flat.
Seeing as the two were not pleased with his earlier disposition, he quickly plastered a smile and appeared friendlier. "Forgive my disposition just now. I recently realize that I can get quite cranky during war times. My name is Hiimigyo Mikage. I'm currently assisting the Kido Corps in escorting Aizen Sousuke to stand before the new Central 46."
Katsuko stiffened at the last name.
Ah, everything makes sense now.
I wonder what kind of reaction I'd get if he found out I was the reincarnation of the man who killed a number of his clan members and that my previous incarnation is actually chilling in my soul, living alongside its new incarnation.
Meh, he might not mind. (sarcasm)
"Cool." Ichigo deadpanned. "Now, why don't you get on with your job then?"
Ignoring his tone, Mikage started walking forward, unabashed. "I'll leave you two to rest. I'm sure going against an evil man must have been quite exhausting. Please, excuse me." Was all he said without looking back, threading after the rear unit of the Kido Corps taking Aizen away, leaving the two to silently stare at his back, baffled.
Ichigo sighed through his nose when Mikage finally disappeared from their sights. That was the most two-faced man he had ever seen in his life. Well, whatever. At least he left them alone and went on ahead.
His hand came up to his face to rake back his bangs out of his eyes that kept lingering on the cross that still managed to stay within sight as it was being carried away. He still had questions about his fight with Aizen that coexisted with his confused feelings about his fading powers.
His ability to sense something whenever he clashed with an opponent's sword revealed something that made him think deeply about Aizen.
He turned his head and shifted his brown eyes to look at someone who could possibly have somewhat of an answer to his question.
She was standing next to him, still looking towards where the cross was being carried away. The gentle wind from the outskirts blew past them, making her hair flow which somehow added to the melancholic look she had.
Katsuko, who had no reason to feel such a way after what Aizen did to her, was expressing the other side of her.
This was the same look she had when Aizen got sealed away in front of her eyes.
She looked… a little lonely.
"Katsuko."
But when she turned away from the past and looked to the present, it was so easy for her to switch up and go from melancholic to worried.
"Hm? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
That question should have been his to ask, honestly.
Instead, Ichigo scooted over and patted the spot next to him on the rock. Katsuko tipped her head, curious. But that didn't stop her from taking the spot next to him. Her body quite appreciated the opportunity to rest which she realized when a heavy sigh escaped her.
The two of them sat in silence, resting, and staying still in the aftermath. Katsuko looked up at the sky but Ichigo kept his gaze on the horizon.
Eventually, Ichigo broke the silence with a simple question: "You… as in Shisugu, knew Aizen before, right?"
"… Yeah?"
There was another pause, albeit brief.
"What Shisugu said back in the Garganta… he said he saw his friendship with Aizen as an investment. But… the way you looked; I don't think that was the case."
Katsuko wasn't sure where he was going with this.
"I wonder if the Hougyoku really reject Aizen at the end… At the end, Aizen lost his powers and Urahara-san said it was because of the Hougyoku was rejecting him. But my dad told me… the Hougyoku could read the hearts of those around it and make their wishes come true. If so, maybe Aizen… wanted to lose his powers."
Katsuko paused when she felt a faint emotion echoing in her soul.
"When I fight someone, I'm able to feel their sword in battle. After I gained enough power to fight him as an equal… I only felt loneliness from his sword. If he was born with exceptional powers then maybe he was looking for somebody who could see things from his perspective, and the moment he gave up and stopped looking… maybe he began wishing he could be just another Soul Reaper somewhere in his heart."
Ichigo looked at Katsuko again and found her directing her gaze to the ground. She started rolling a small rock under her foot, looking a little melancholic once more.
"What do you think?"
What did she think?
What did you think?
"I… uh, … I befriended Aizen in school because he was different. We were both different because he stood out. Like Rukia said, Shisugu was the golden child of the Naogoma Clan. He was different and he was superior to a lot of people, even outshining well known elders. To Shisugu, meeting Aizen was kind of like… a breath of fresh air because he wasn't treated like a prodigy. We got along. I don't know all the details. But I know there was a reason I was drawn to him, there was a reason they stayed friends for as long as they did. It turns out they were the same."
Katsuko couldn't freely access Shisugu's memories like before in order to find an answer to Ichigo's question. She could only rely on what she had seen so far, what feelings it caused, and what being near things Shisugu felt strongly about.
She could only reverberate the noise from within, an echo of noise.
Seeing Aizen become strange and watching him being sealed away were examples of it.
"When I think of Shisugu standing at the top… I can't help but feel so detached and lonely. The ultimate strength and the solitude it brings. I don't know anything other than how he feels when think about it… but if they were the same… then maybe Aizen was lonely at some point?"
Thinking back to the words she spoke instinctively in response to Aizen's reproach, she frowned and tried again:
"The words Aizen said: 'It absolutely confounds me how degraded yourself". And the words I told him: 'I didn't mind falling back and doing things my way'. I think… Shisugu and Aizen had a falling out at some point. And who knows… maybe you were right and Aizen was lonely when he no longer had someone who had the same perspective?"
Agh…
Katsuko smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. She couldn't find the right words to explain her thoughts. "It's hard to explain when it's all over the place. I don't know if I'm making any sense here. Sorry."
Ichigo simply shook his head. "No, it's fine. It's not like I expected you to know the answer. Even if we'll never know, I just can't help but wonder now that it's over."
Their answers would be based on their gut feelings, not truth.
Somehow the way he said it made Katsuko wonder if the subject of his own power loss automatically made Ichigo think of how Aizen could be feeling when the reality dawned on him, when Aizen lost his powers.
"What about you? How do you feel now that it's… over?"
The orange haired teen went from looking the ground to the sky, blinking, pondering.
"… Honestly, I'm still trying to process it. I feel a little lost."
"You do look like it… especially with your hair long and all. You look… emo."
Ichigo couldn't help the chuckle escaping him. "I guess I do play the part. I don't know how you can see with your hair all up in your face everyday." He brushed his bangs to the side with his hand, a fruitless effort. They just dropped back in front of his eyes. "I hate it."
"It's pretty easy. You're just new to the long bangs club." Katsuko smiled softly before jutting out her bottom lip and blowing the air out of her eyes just as Ichigo looked over to her. "But I feel like cutting them shorter since they do kinda get in my vision when I fight."
"Didn't I tell you find a way to keep it out of the way?"
Indeed. Back when they were training to rescue Rukia, Ichigo asked her if her hair got in the way and suggested to keep them out of her eyes since they did get in her eyes. However, she was quick to abandon the hair pin at some point and just go rogue with it.
"I'll cut them. It's about time I did." Katsuko waved her hand dismissively. "I feel like I'll look better with a haircut anyway."
"You would, actually." Ichigo nodded, deadpanning. It was always better when people could see her face instead of having it grow longer and literally curtain her face and look like the Grudge.
She leaned back on her hands and raised a brow from the side. "You're making it sound like I'm ugly everyday. Thanks."
"Your words, not mine." Ichigo said flatly, looking away, playing along.
Katsuko huffed and playfully knocked her leg into his while he just pushed her back. Often, they would just nudge each other's limbs with a playful banter. Just that simple gesture reminded her that the war was finally over, truly.
Everything would go back to normal.
As normal as it could get for humans who experienced the touch of the afterlife.
All because of one boy.
A boy who looked sad.
His profile from the side made her lower her eyes, unsure of what else to say in attempt to try and cheer him up. Were there any words for this situation? Urahara already tried to be rational to help him see what good he did for the world… but he still looked down.
Katsuko pushed herself off her arms to sit up properly, resting her hands on her lap, slightly wriggling with hesitation before she finally decided to tap his arm.
She could only think of one thing.
"Hey… Ichigo?"
One important thing.
"Hm?"
It might not help.
"Thank you for everything you did."
But she still wanted to say it.
He who had to sacrifice his powers to make sure his home, his loved ones, and the world was protected was sitting next to her and looking sad in the end. She didn't know what she could say to try and cheer him up.
She didn't think she could say anything other than those two specific words.
Because he once told her he preferred hearing that.
"Thank you for protecting us."
He held her stare for a moment when her words sank in. With the way she smiled at him with those words which was similar to how she smiled at him when she returned to normal: she was grateful to him and she wanted to convey it the best way she could.
And honestly, there was nothing better than hearing someone say 'thank you'.
Especially when Ichigo was the type that didn't expect anything in return for what he did.
Despite how he felt, he would still do it all again to defeat Aizen and safeguard everyone.
A small smile following a sigh came on his face and he just shook his head, humble. "I couldn't have done it all on my own, especially at the end. You protected everyone too while waiting for me."
"Ah… I guess I did."
"You were right to be concerned about the one hour."
"Only because I believed you could do it. You did say you were going to get stronger and beat him."
With everything that happened, that peaceful time felt liked it happened a long time ago.
"Anyway," Katsuko pushed herself up to stand up in front of him. She held her hands out. "Speaking of 'everyone', let's go see them. I spoke to them earlier and they all look shy to come and talk to you."
Maybe it was better to bring him to people who were close to him instead of leaving him alone looking sad. Yes. This is what she thought was right. If thanking him made him smile a little, then maybe hearing more of it would cheer up him just a little more to keep him from looking sad.
Ichigo leaned his head back. "Shy? What for?"
"I think because of," Katsuko gestured to his hair and exaggerated his new height. "You looked like a different person to them. They are probably thinking 'Is that really Ichigo?' 'No, that's not him.' 'Who is that?'"
"Oh, come on, I don't think I look that different."
Regardless, Ichigo took her hands and allowed her to pull him up on his feet. He didn't see any point in his friends being reluctant to approach them. It was silly.
Besides, he already made the decision to tell them the truth so why not do it now while there was time? He wasn't sure what would happen later. The Soul Society might need his help for whatever the aftermath was. Maybe he would be busy, he didn't know.
"You sure you're okay to be walking around though?" Ichigo asked while they walked side by side on their way back to the town. He was keeping an eye on how she walking to make sure she wasn't faking it all to appear fine. "You don't have to push yourself if you need to rest."
The memory of her looking absolutely drained and finished resurfaced.
"Hm? Oh! I'm feeling okay. I mean… definitely better than all the times I literally died while fighting Aizen. Err… but let's not talk about that now." Katsuko was quick to try and dismiss the subject and when Ichigo gave her this concerned suspicious look that demanded an explanation.
Ichigo remarked, staring at all the tears on her Shihakusho, especially the big one that revealed the back of her left leg whenever she walked. But she did look okay.
His eyes moved back up and landed on her head which shorter than usual which gave him the perfect view of her roots that were becoming black again.
"Oh, hey. Your hair is turning black again!" Ichigo exclaimed, taking a closer look.
"What?!" Katsuko stopped walking and grabbed a handful of her hair to bring it in front of her while looking back, trying to see the change he spoke of.
However, she completely forgot about it when Ichigo's eyes widened and he started going down. Reflexively, she tried grabbing him but he still fell on the hard ground where he started grasping at the base of his neck, nearly clawing at it, his teeth clenching before he released a bloody scream.
He was in pain.
What…?
Immediately, she dropped on her knees and her hands hovered above him, absolutely at a loss.
"I-Ichigo?! What's wrong?! What's happening?!"
He just turned on his side and continued screaming which only seemed to grow louder as his legs kicked, trashed.
Katsuko's head shot up and she desperately looked around for help.
What do I do?! What do I do?!
All the Soul Reapers who were escorting Aizen were gone.
What am I supposed?!
The others were scattered across Karakura Town, nowhere near the outskirts where they were situated.
How can I help you?!
Urahara was in the World of the Living.
His father—
"Your dad…!"
If this was a side effect from using the Final Getsuga Tenshou, and his father knew about this ability… then maybe…!
Her hand quickly dropped on his shoulder while he continued suffering through the pain. "I'll be right back! I'm coming back! I'm going to get help!" She said so fast, thinking that if he missed one part then he'd still be able to hear the rest of what she said to be able to piece her words together and not think she was abandoning him.
Clumsily, she turned around and started running before instantly flashing stepping to the town.
…
…
…
Her body didn't hesitate to run and leap off the edge of a cliff and then flash stepped to the ground, causing her to roll when she fell. Her movements were frantic, too shaken to calm down because she was scared.
She was scared for Ichigo.
Her heart was beating fast with trepidation. His screams were echoing in her head which didn't help her panicking.
She never saw him in a state like that before. It was nothing like when he screamed in that hole when he was training to regain his powers to save Rukia.
She didn't know what was happening to her dear friend.
She didn't like seeing him in such intense pain.
As she turned around a corner, almost slipping, she saw familiar faces coming out of a Senkaimon. It was her allies from Hueco Mundo being escorted by Urahara Kisuke. Rukia was the first to stop but quickly run forward when she saw Katsuko's expression. It was the same one she saw back when she was so stressed about the winter war, she looked like she was about to cry from an overwhelming weight.
"Rukia!" Katsuko exclaimed, staggering to a stop when the smaller Reaper held her arms.
"What? What's the matter?!" Rukia asked her, knowing that it was serious if Katsuko had lost all her cool like this.
Katsuko lifted a hand to her hair, face twisting with anxiety as she fought back tears of fear. "Ichigo! He's in pain! I don't know what to do! I don't know what's happening to him…! I…! I think it's because he used Final Getsuga Tenshou! I just don't…!"
Its begun. Urahara remarked inwardly before disappearing in a flash.
Katsuko felt Rukia tug her back to the direction from which she came to have her show them Ichigo, forcing her to whip her head and look at the cliff, barely registering the concerned questions coming from Chad, Renji, Inoue and Ishida.
What's going to happen now…?!
Phew, finally finished this chapter! As I'm posting this, I'm very sleepy. I'll fix any mistakes later.
I tried not to get too into detail with what happened between Shisugu and Aizen. Even though Shisugu and Katsuko share the same soul, it is still Shisugu's past and not Katsuko's story. She just happen to be caught in the middle of this mess. And, I only used what Kubo wrote in the Unmasked Databook about Aizen and loneliness. I wanted to keep the mystique about our villain.
Now, there are only 2 arcs left: Fullbring and TYBW. However, there will be original little story arc(s) coming up, especially now that Ichigo is going to be a regular dude. After all, this is Katsuko's story. When I created this fanfic, I created it with the thought of it being Bleach from a different perspective with a character that was kind of opposite to Ichigo.
So, if some of you just want to read this oc story while hoping it just follows the canon storyline... then sorry in advance, we won't be going following the canon storyline right away after this.
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Also, let's summarize Katsuko's soul condition just in case there are people who are still lost!
In the past, a piece of Shisugu's soul was taken and used for Aizen's experiments, to create a Prototype of a Hollow named White (which helped create the Hollow of our main boy). Thirty years ago, Naogoma Chisaki became the host of Prototype White and fled the Soul Society out of fear because she killed her comrades under Aizen's influence, spending years desperately trying to avoid being corrupted by Prototype White.
The reason why her soul wasn't Hollowfied so easily is because the Hollow was rejecting her since its core wanted to be recompleted with its whole.
During her hiding, Shisugu died.
Fast forward, Chisaki ends up in Karakura Town, at the end of her rope, seeking a soul to find refuge in because her soul is slowly being tainted and all other humans souls she tries hiding in are being rejected by the Hollow. She eventually encounters a young six year old Katsuko and finds her compatible because the Hollow can feel that Katsuko's soul is the same as its core despite it being reborn.
Chisaki seals herself inside the young Katsuko, imposing her Soul Reapers powers on her which causes the young Katsuko to start seeing blurry figures (spirits). With the fragment of the soul returned, it leeched off the connection between Chisaki and Katsuko which reawakened the Soul Reaper side of Katsuko very slowly. Instead of Shisugu's powers, it gave birth to Katsuko's own unique one.
But a Hollow is still dangerous. So, as a last of defense, Arashihoro splits into two. The woman of wind and hollow of lightning. Woman's face looks very similar to Katsuko while Hollow's looks identical to Shisugu because the Hollow was created with Shisugu's soul.
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Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you have a nice day/night!