I know I said I'd write when I have time...(Im not layin bricks or carpet rn so I guess dis counts lololol)
What? You seriously thought I wouldn't give y'all a chapter? After them heartwarming reviews?
Listen to (Anxiety suite- Evangelion) And that's the theme of my thoughts about what i put in the beginning of that Author's note.
Please accept this smaller chapter as a token of apology, and assurance that I havent abandoned this story. One can always say something only for the opposite to happen, so here's MY assurance.
(Urahara Shoten- 10:56 pm, sunday.)
"We lost the Hogyoku's video feed? When?" asked Tessai, who dropped the tray of tea and tea cups onto the floor of the main area of the shop.
Urahara, beneath his bucket hat, began to sweat. The Hogyoku was designed to provide video feedback as long as a stable link with it was acquired. However once that happened, the only thing that can break that link is if Urahara turned it off manually, or destruction of the Hogyoku..and it's host.
Needless to say, Urahara was stressed out. His demeanor had changed from cheerful to straight up anxiety in a fraction of a second.
The months before, The Hogyoku had a steady stream of video that it had been sending him, and every piece had to be sped up to a normal speed, otherwise everything would sound long and drawn out and unintelligible.
"Last week. The video speed had been slowed to at-least a quarter frame a second. Our last contact with them had been six years ago...It's been a full decade since we've seen Ichigo in the flesh, but...I fear...I'll have to tell Yamamoto about this, The Quincy have been idle for too long for them not to be up to something horrendously bad." Urahara said.
Tessai, eyes clouded in a cold understanding began to pick up his mess.
"I...see." Tessai said.
"Nah, There's no way." Yoruichi chimed in, in her cat form from the windowsill.
"Hm? Do you know anything else that It could be?" Urahara asked, setting down the papers of data he was examining onto the table before him.
She hopped down with elegance, and said "Don't tell me you still haven't accepted it, Kisuke." Yoruichi prodded as she sat down infront of him on the table.
"..." Urahara breathed out.
"The boy's a god, Kisuke. The Reio is still alive, encased in Spiritual-Barrier Amber, No arms, No legs, No heart, And he's still alive. If you lost the video, then maybe the hogyoku turned it off by itself."
Urahara had been struggling with the fact that Ichigo is now a "Deity", because subjects of the Reio don't have that capacity in their souls. Ever since he'd seen Ichigo's divinity with his own eyes, Urahara began pouring over the data and spreadsheets and dug back into his previous research of the soul and couldn't find anything of real value. So, He attributed it to Ichigo having Transcendent Spiritual Pressure and he gained a new form or something of the like. There's never been in Soul Society's eternal history of a mortal ascending to godhood.
Urahara being a logical thinker decided that it was impossible, but he keeps forgetting that "Ichigo has always shattered his own fate, and the fate of others countless times. Why wouldn't this be Possible?"
"That may be true, Yoruichi-san, But I've dug back into my research on the soul, and if it were to ever become Divine through extraordinary means it would immediately be absorbed back into the Soul King due to the law of Souls. Or hell, it might even be enough to bring the Soul King back to consciousness. It'll be a catastrophe..."
"It's Ichigo. You gotta trust his ability. You've seen him open the gates of hell. OUR Hell. Who else has the power to do that? You've seen those people in that city bow to him as he walked through their streets, You've even seen People who look EXACTLY Like historical depictions of the gods of myth here in the World of the Living."
"My, My, Yoruichi. you seem to have a great deal of trust for him. Is it a cru-" Urahara smirked before getting clawed on the nose.
"Be Serious." The Feline assassin spoke.
"Ouch!" Urahara said, cradling his bleeding nose. "But...You're right. Its weird for me to act this way. I don't wanna lose that kid, He's kinda a son to me...Tessai? Are you alright?"
Tessai who had cleaned up his mess had been standing behind them the whole time, and seemed moved with Yoruichi's unwavering trust in the Savior of the Soul Society.
"I'm fine, Boss." As he wiped a tear from his cheek.
The three had been through absolute hell alongside Ichigo during that horrid War Aizen had thrown at them. Most have only seen the main battle between the Espada and the Captains, but there was a MAJOR land war that pit millions of Hollows against thousands of Shinigami.
"Don't worry, Tessai. Everything'll be alright." Yoruichi said, Jumping to the giant's shoulder.
"Maa Yoruichi-san.. You sure do have a way with calming, huh." Kisuke said, standing up and dusting himself off.
"Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked in curiosity as she saw the hair on his arms and neck stand.
"No time to sit, A god is coming."
The hair on her back had stood straight up, as did the hair on Tessai's arms.
"What timing!" Yoruichi said, as she disappeared to her room to change.
It was true, It was very VERY feint, but a horrendously strong reiatsu signature had appeared in the Training room below.
Urahara was the first to flash step over to the entrance and opened it.
"Kurosaki-Kun? Is that you?"
Continuation of last chapter.
"Ehhh?" Ichigo exclaimed, His Bankai sword had split into two smaller but equally deadly swords. One trench knife, and a Sword with a hollowed center, and hollow elongated handle, Both had a reddish glint when the light shined off of them.
"Full of surprises, aren't you." Kisuke said, with warm relief. Ichigo's spiritual pressure was still invisible, so that's good.
Ichigo picked both blades up and eyed them carefully, his armor clanking slightly with the movement.
"I see, This is Zangetsu's true shikai." Tessai noted curiously.
*Thud Thud THud THUd THUD THUD THUD* *CRASH*
The sliding doors had opened harshly, revealing three panting adults, each pale in the face to see Ichigo's new look.
"Kurosaki? Is that really you?" Ishida asked, his hair now parted and sleek. He kept his clean cut look, good to see.
Chad walked in, took off his shoes, and then walked straight over to Ichigo and grabbed him in a Bone-Crushing hug
"Ack! Chad! CHAD!" Ichigo cried out as he was being crushed by a literal hispanic giant. His hair had grown long and wavy, not unlike Captain Kyoraku.
"Sado-kun! You're gonna kill him!" Orihime, who had longer and fluffier hair then during the war, had walked up in concern.
Ishida took a seat next to Kisuke, eyeing the new company warily.
After Chad let Ichigo down, he sat next to Ichigo's new company, Acero specifically, who shared a look of understanding with the darker man...until he realized Chad was looking at Acero's ears.
"It's good to see you three, How have you all been?" Ichigo asked.
"Everything's been well actually, we haven't run into any world ending psychopaths yet." Orihime said, Chad nodded, and Uryu agreed.
"What about you, Kurosaki? After all these years, you seriously have to introduce me to your tailor, they've always been giving you the edgiest of things to wear."
A tick mark appeared on Ichigo's forehead as he leaned in and said "I'll have you know that this is ARMOR, you cant tailor ARMOR you fool, what about your hairdresser?"
Ishida gained a tick mark of his own, smirked and pushed up his glasses. "Shows what you know, you dont even look like you take care of that long and messy hair."
At this, Hephaestus who'd been brushing Ichigo's hair up until this point (Because he didn't really care to, and would prefer it to be wild instead) Gained a tick mark of her own but kept her silence.
"Why you!" Ichigo began, but then breathed out and...began to laugh? "It's good to see you all. Seriously."
Ishida chuckled, and the three agreed.
"So, Ichigo. Who are the people sitting behind you?" Ishida spoke.
"They are my Familia...Uh...Imagine it like a squad of the Soul society...Kinda?"
"They're a group of adventurers." Kisuke spoke from behind his fan.
"Adventurers? Just what kind of world did you get thrown into?" Ishida said, genuinely curious.
Before Ichigo could speak, Kisuke said "More on that later."
"spshpshs" a distant voice spoke, and Ichigo Familia was on edge. Ichigo himself nearly facepalmed, and in that moment, "GOOOOOOD NIIIIGHT IIIIIIICHIGOOOOOO!"
Isshin Kurosaki, in his shinigami form had jumped through the open door at a high speed in a flying kick, but at that, Mirba's arm sprang out from behind Ichigo and caught the Kurosaki Patriarch's foot, stopping him and holding him in place.
"Do you know him?" Mirba asked, as the rest of the familia saw Ichigo and Kisuke's relaxed position and assumed there was no threat.
Mirba was only acting as expected of her.
"...This...Is my Dad. Mirba you can set him down now."
Her face paled and she sprung up "OHMYGOSH I'm so SORRY!" and sat him down gently.
"Heh, why don't you treat me as nice as that?" Isshin said, as Ichigo sat his swords side by side on the table, and stood up to meet him eye-to-eye.
"..." Isshin's eyebrow raised suspiciously, as did everyone who was watching. Ichigo was silent.
Until Isshin was embraced by his son, Ichigo didn't care who saw. It was his father and he'd be damned if he couldn't hug him.
"Its good to see you, Dad."
Isshin's eyes welled, but he closed them as he hugged Ichigo back. To save some face.
"At Least warn us next time you're gonna teleport out of this dimension, you brat."
It was a heartwarming scene, but it didn't last long as both men quickly parted and coughed, trying to change the subject.
Sitting down, Ichigo coughed into his hand trying to calm his emotions.
"SO...Yuzu has a boyfriend?" Ichigo asked
Isshin's forehead began to bead with sweat, as his head whipped to Kisuke's veiled face, and then back to Ichigo.
"...Yeah, But He's a nice guy, I met him personally and sized him up. He likes cooking as much as she does, and not once have I seen them holding hands." Ichigo nodded with approval.
"But...I did see them hug once." Both Ichigo and Isshin gained dark looks as they nodded to each other.
"Dear, You should at least meet the poor boy before plotting his demise." Hephaestus chuckled, as she put a hand on his pauldron.
Isshin's eyes darted to the pregnant woman across from him, and then to Ichigo, then to the wedding Ring/Band on their fingers, both sharing the same color and hues, and somehow, the same Reiatsu.
But then his eyes snapped back to her stomach, and then to Ichigo, then back to her stomach.
His face split with his grin, and at that moment he howled to the sky that he was finally a grandfather.
At Least that would have happened if he didn't faint in his seat.
"Well...I guess he already figured it out huh." Yoruichi said as she chuckled.
"What did he figure out?" Orihime asked, eying Hephaestus and the wedding rings, Chad and Uryu's nodding to agree.
"Well, Ichigo here is married to that pretty lady sitting yonder, and she's pregnant." He said behind his fan.
Ichigo's face was still marred by the cringe of the display his father put onto him.
"Oh." Orihime said, but then said "What great news! Ishida-kun and I got engaged three months ago as well!" She said, showing off the sapphire and silver ring that mimicked the look of her hair pins and Uryu's Spirit bow.
"There's no way...Uryu? Is that true?" Ichigo said, as Uryu smirked and put up his glasses again...He still needs to fix the nose rests on those things.
"Well Holy hell! Congratulations! We have to celebrate soom." he said, which Orihime and Uryu happily agreed.
"What about you, Chad? Anything new with you?" Ichigo said, tapping the man's leg to get his attention.
"Actually, Yes. My powers, the ones I gained in Hueco Mundo somehow evolved to a point to where I can use Hollow powers." Chad revealed.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes and said "Hollowfication?"
"No, But similar. I get to use those powers, but I don't have to fear being taken over like you did, no offense" Chad said, putting up his hands.
"None taken, That's really good news! What about other things?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm a professional MMA fighter and Boxer now, so there's that." Chad said.
Ichigo was seriously impressed, but not surprised. Chad was always built like a tank.
"Im proud of you man. Seriously. Same with you two, Orihime and Ishida."
Both gave their thanks, until Ishida spoke up "So Ichigo, Who are they? They look like they cosplay for a living."
"Cosplay?" Ren asked curiously.
"Ehh don't worry about it. So...This is my wife, Hephaestus. She's the god who's dominion is over anything forge related. Like the greek god Hephaestus." Ichigo said and the three nodded their heads understandingly...
"Impossible" Uryu said
"Hold on, I'll explain that part in a bit." Ichigo said, satisfying Uryu for the moment.
"But I am the greek god Hephaestus?" The fiery woman said curiously.
"Hold on dear, I'll explain in a bit." Ichigo said and she nodded.
Ichigo motioned for Mirba to stand, and she spoke "I'm Mirba Tuganis, Captain of Ichigo Familia."
Chad's head perked towards her direction when he heard the spanish word for "Family", and their eyes met. She promptly sat down after.
They went in order after that.
"My name is Acero D'atagne. I am second in command, under Captain Mirba and Lord Ichigo."
The Karakura Trio's heads snapped to Ichigo when the word "Lord" Left his mouth.
Kisuke's grin only widened.
Acero sat down, and Ren stood up haphazardly.
"Sup. 'Names Ren Mori. Good to meet ya" He said, as he sat back down, side-eying Yoruichi's chest.
Last was Cassandra.
She rose to her feet with her pillow, and then sat back down.
Acero gave her an assuring hand on her shoulder with a small smile.
"..I-I'm the Seer, Ca-Cassandtra- I mean Cassandra!" She said, as she sat down in an embarrassed heap.
"It's good to meet all of you!" Orihime said cheerfully.
"I'm Orihime Inoue" She said as she stood up.
Chad stood up and said "Sado Yasutora, You can call me chad." Sado said, as he sat back down.
Ishida stayed sitting, and said "I'm Uryu Ishida, A pleasure to meet you all."
"Hell's his problem?" Ren said.
"Ah don't worry about him, he's always been a stick in the mud." Ichigo whispered back, loud enough for Uryu to hear.
"Tch."
"I'm Isshin Kurosaki" Isshin said, now awake and sitting up.
Everyone resisted a face palm.
"With introductions out of the way, I believe it be best to catch you up on what's happened since you were gone." Urahara said, snapping his fan closed.
Tessai closed the shop doors and the lights dimmed.
A holographic screen of the Soul society was displayed on the center table.
"So to those of you who don't know about how Ichigo came to your world, or left ours, and what happened after, pay attention."
"The winter war." Urahara began. "It was a bloodbath that only ended because the head of the snake had been cut off."
"The traitor Captain Aizen was killed by none other than Ichigo, after months of struggle, then without fanfare or celebration, Ichigo disappeared. To where? We didn't know. I worked tirelessly for months on end to track his Reiatsu, but to no avail. I was then called to the Soul society, to help Mayuri rebuild the Seireitei. Mine, Tessai's and Yoruichi's exile was lifted in light of Aizens machinations."
"But the damage had been done. Many were scarred by the war, but time had healed that and left a new family in it's wake."
Ichigo was listening intently, as were his Familia. The Hologram of the Soul society now showed the Seireitei, except it was horrifyingly more expanse than it used to be.
"The ENTIRETY of the rukongai had banded together and with the head captains permission, formed the 'Outer Seireitei'. Once a rural village-scape that was rife with blood and misery, was now a civilized society of souls who were inspired by Ichigo's heroism. Monuments sprung up and Stories and song had spread among the population. All had aspired for the sheer honor and bravery and will to protect that Ichigo had shown them."
Ichigo blushed, and couldn't help but to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.
Ren whistled and Acero's eyebrows raised in respect.
Mirba's eyes widened, He was exactly like a hero in the stories she heard as a child!
Hephaestus gained a look of pride and leaned her head on Ichigo's pauldron. It seemed to soften around her.
"Normally, Information of the war would have been kept a secret, but there was no Central 46 to censor the public. So one veteran from Squad 6 on a patrol drunkenly gave his account and witness of the main battle in Karakura, and then it spread, and spread until the captains had been forced to give the truth or risk another war- one with BILLIONS of souls in the rukongai, and the Western, Northern and Southern Soul Society's curiosity to know what almost destroyed the world didn't help anything either." Urahara explained.
"SO, thus began an age of Prosperity and Unity in the soul society, without their greatest Hero."
"It didn't end there. Ichigo's Heroism may have inspired the Soul Society, but in the land of the Hollows, Hueco Mundo...It was his terrifying strength that inspired them. They banded together under a new queen, one who was moved by Ichigo's sacrifice, gathered Aizen's remaining army, and founded a kingdom, becoming Queen of Hueco Mundo."
Ichigo's eyebrows raised, He'd never met this chick and she's inspired by him?
"Hollows did see what went on, and spread the stories to their kin" Kisuke explained, which satisfied Ichigo, as he motioned to continue.
Somehow, Urahara felt compelled to listen.
"Anyways, With the Hollows pacified, and the Soul society unified, It seemed all would be right with the worlds. Until recently."
This caught Ichigo's immediate Attention.
"War?" Ren blurted out, and Urahara's face remained straight.
"...Oh my." Mirba said, feeling the dread.
"Against who?" Ichigo asked, worrying about another war that might threaten his friends and family.
"...The Quincy have returned. They've completely taken over Hueco Mundo, and captured Queen Hallibel. They've been inactive since, but they're still there."
Ichigo tensed, Nel is still there!
"I know what you're thinking, Ichigo. Nel, and Grimmjow?" Urahara said.
"...I was only thinking about Nel, but Grimmjow too, I suppose."
"They're confirmed uncaptured. They left Hueco Mundo at the orders of Hallibel, and they're somewhere here in the world of the living." The shopkeep informed.
Ichigo sighed in relief.
"Are they a threat to Soul Society?" The God of Death asked.
"...Yes. A special squad of the OnmitsukidÅ overheard plans to Invade the Soul society...all but one returned, he then died shortly after delivering his report. However, once he died, we lost track of the main invasion force that overtook Hueco Mundo."
"..." Ichigo was silent. He had unknowingly brought his wife, and subsequent child, to the middle of a potential battlefield.
'Ichigo.' Old man Zangetsu called out.
'What.' Ichigo responded.
'You're a Deity.' Shiro reminded.
Ichigo's eyes calmed for a moment, but then said out loud "I dont have the rules of Gekai binding my power any more."
This made his Familia behind him shudder, they've seen the true scope of Ichigo's power when Mirba initially lost her eye.
"..What do you mean?" Ishida asked.
"The place I went to, Was kind of like a world you'd see in 'King of the Rings' Or 'Play of thrones'" Ichigo explained, and the three shared curious looks of understanding, now realizing why everyone looked so ancient.
"Somehow, through a series of events, I ended up becoming a god. Since I entered that place as a Shinigami, people...I guess began to worship me. And due to their prayers and the weird Reiatsu there, It transformed my soul, and now I apparently have dominion over the concept of Death."
This floored the Karakura three, and Isshin's eyes began to look over Ichigo again. Now that the room was dim, he saw a faint shimmering around Ichigo and Hephaestus, and due to his family origins, realized what he said was true. The soul king was described to have that same aura.
"I know, its crazy, but it happened. But now, I have everything I need to make sure everyone is safe. I guarantee it." Ichigo said with resolve, and his dual swords seemed to vibrate with resolve.
Kisuke released a breath he didn't know he was holding, and sighed with relief.
Nobody knew didn't know that if Ichigo came back, He'd bring his family, or if he'd even want to partake in yet another war, should it come.
"What?" Ichigo asked, seeing the eyes of his friends and family on him.
"well...you kinda just removed thousands of pounds of pressure on our shoulders...Give us a second." Uryu said, already knowing the scope of the situation, and now, is relieved that Ichigo would have their backs once more.
"Pft, as if I wouldn't help. I mean, I have a metric ass ton of friends in the soul society too. As if I wouldn't help them when it came down to it...now..who's the leader of the Quincy?" Ichigo asked.
"A man named Juha Bach. Or Yhwach. An ancient Quincy who fought against the soul society a thousand years ago. Other than that, not much information is known about him." Urahara said.
From inside of Ichigo's soul, Suki eyed Old man Zangetsu humorously.
"What does he look like?" Ichigo said, as Urahara gulped, and the hologram morphed to show a distorted Image of the Quincy Emperor.
"This is the only known depiction of his face." Urahara said.
"..." Uryu, Orihime, and Chad looked at Ichigo with concern.
"My lord?" Mirba asked as she too looked at Ichigo's troubled face.
Hephaestus's eyes were wide as well. She's seen this face before.
"...Old man..Zangetsu?"
Exposition Exposition Exposition Exposition Exposition Exposition Exposition
WEW! Shit's gettin interesting i'd say.
NOW LEME EXPLAIN, a TLDR for instance.
I wanted to avoid the whole "Jealous Orihime drama Trope" by having her find comfort in Ishida, a guy who :LEts Be hOneSt: Lacks some maidens. Plus it seemed like he had a crush on her anyhow.
Chad having controlled hollow powers seemed like a cool upgrade given his affinity for Hueco Muncho, and him being a badass regardless, it wouldnt be likely that he wouldnt try to follow in Ichigo's footsteps by training his ass off.
Uryu...We'll get to him later.
XCUTION? not yet.
Every filler arc since Aizen's defeat? Not yet huehuehuehue.
I hope this generates more hype for TTYBW. As the next chapter might release soon after it airs hehe.
This is a thank you to all who wished me luck in parenthood and at being an author, I know it's gonna be a wild ride, and i'm glad i have you all who read my story to support me in mind. I truly appreciate you all.