This is a story inspired by c0pywr1t3r's story Royal linen. It will follow a similar style in that it will be a transcendent ichigo x harem story. Aside from this it will go drastically different.

I do NOT own bleach or the characters therein. All rights go to Kubo Tite.

"Speaking"

'thought'

"Special abilities/attacks"

Chapter 1: beginning of the end

He did it. Ichigo had done it. He had defeated Ywach Bach, King of the Quincy, murderer of his mother, his strongest opponent to date. Yes he technically had help from his brother in arms turned traitor turned double agent Ishida Uryu and his former nemesis Sasuke Aizen. However this didn't matter. The monster had been slain. However a thought occurred to Ichigo. A memory actually.

XXXXflashbackXXXX

"Kurosaki-san." Hyosubi Ichibe spoke. His deep baritone voice calm and steady. His usual jovial smile replaced with a solemn visage. "Should you be successful in defeating Ywach the realms will begin collapsing." He began solemnly.

Ichigo looked down at the two Zangetsu in his hands before looking back to the monk. Ichibe spoke up again "the world needs a lunch pin Kurosaki-san." He said, placing a giant hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "Should you be successful in this battle would you take up the mantle of Soul King?" He asked. After seeing Ichigo's face become a mixture of confusion and solemn recognition he continued. "Unlike the previous you would need not be bound within that Crystal. Though your life as you know it will end. You will not be able to leave the royal realm without causing unpredictable side effects on the world around you. If not immediately obliterate it." Ichibe continued.

Ichigo stood there for but a moment before speaking. "Osho-san." He began, unsure of what exactly to say before a gentle pulse of power from his zanpakutō, both of them, rang through him giving him the confidence to make a decision. "If I beat him. Then I'm the only one who would be remotely strong enough to potentially become the next soul king. So yeah I'll take the mantle." He said as an uncharacteristically cocky grin stretched across his face.

XXXXend flashbackXXXX

There the three of them stood as reality itself began to crumble. All in existence could feel it. The end of all things. Ichigo looked to Uryu and then to Aizen and took off in a burst of shunpo. He darted through the shattered remains of the soul society. Past Quincy soldats and shinigami alike. Towards the sky. He hit the barrier around the royal realm and shattered through. Something even he knew shouldn't have been possible. At least not that easily. Landing on the floating platform of the royal palace Ichigo began calling out to Ichibe, using his nickname of course, repeatedly. Soon the monk and the rest of zero division behind him emerged from the palace. They all looked at the boy. No man before then with a mixture of joy, pride, and sorrow in their eyes. Quickly pulling out her needle, Senjumaru stepped behind Ichigo. "This will hurt more than anything you've felt before." She'd began in her usual monotone. She then asked ichigo to remove his top and lean forward to pull the flesh of his back taut for the next step. Ichigo was about to ask why he had to stand like this only for the thought to die in his head as she stabbed the needle into his back and began working it like an ancient tattoo needle.

Ichigo screamed and cried in absolute agony. His mind nearly having blanked out from the pain. The only thought that made him continue to push through the agony was as simple to him as any other. 'I will protect...' who? It didn't matter he would protect any and everyone he could. Even his two Zanpakutō couldn't ease his suffering, though they actually felt it equally to their master. Several hours later Senjumaru had finished. "The Transference is complete." She said calmly. The exhaustion evident in her voice. Division zero stepped around Ichigo to look upon his back. There amidst excess ink and blood was a tattoo. A sigil that marked Kurosaki Ichigo, substitute shinigami, as the soul king. The lynchpin to all existence. Whatever one would think to call him.

Not long after Senjumaru's work was finished did Ichigo pass out from the pain. The zero division took him to a room with a large bed. They'd already cleaned his back. A simple act of kindness after all that the universe put him through. That and Senjumaru had a bit of over compulsory disorder and hated things not being perfectly clean and tidy.

Well. I know this seems short and all. But hey this is only chapter 1. And I gotta hook y'all in to get ya readin. Anyway please be respectful in your reviews. See ya later space cowboy.