Karakura-chō (空座町, Karakura Town)
Ichigo: written with the kanji for 'one' and 'guardian.'
His mother, Masaki, was the one who named him, and his father, Isshin, made sure that his son understood the meaning when his twin sisters were born. Ichigo loved his mother; she was the center of his universe, of his family's universe. Just like the sun. There wasn't anywhere he could go without his mother by his side. That was until that fateful day in the middle of June when he was just nine years old, and his sisters had just turned five the month before.
Even after facing Grand Fisher, after his father reassured him that no one blamed him for his mother's death, Ichigo still carried that burden. He swore that he would do whatever it took to protect as many people as he could, no matter what. Even if it killed him, if it meant he protected the people he loved and cared about, he would die without regrets. That would explain why his heart sank when he was sent back home by Nimaiya Ōetsu.
There he stood in front of the Kurosaki Clinic. The neon lights from the clinic sign and the bright light from inside the home stood a stark contrast from the rest of the world, drowning in rain. It pelted the glass doors and all around, soaking his clothes with a chill down to his bones. The chill made worse by the scene of his father and sisters enjoying dinner, none the wiser of the tragedies Ichigo was forced to witness.
Uncertain, Ichigo reached for the door handle and turn to open it, but quickly let go. Uneasiness sat in his belly and his throat constricted. How was he going to face his father? Despite it all, Ichigo felt like a failure. He was asked to protect the Soul Society by a dying man, and he couldn't do it. He failed to stop Yhwach, and to add salt to the wound, his Fullbring and pride was utterly destroyed.
With fists tightening at his side and knuckles turning white, Ichigo ran. As he ran, he didn't realize his father opening the door, calling out to him.
He didn't care that he was getting soaked to the bone. He didn't care where he was going as long as it was away from his home. The combination of the events of the past three days and the rain weighed heavily on Ichigo, both emotionally and physically. He was just so fucking exhausted of it all.
All the rain just reminded him again of that day. He wasn't sure if his heart constricting in his chest was due to him running, or because of the memory. Tears mixed with the rain wetting his face; God, how he hated when it rained. Even so, it was cathartic and comforting that the sky felt the exact same as he did.
Before he knew it, he found himself at the wretched Karasu River. He stood near the river's edge, chest heaving. Memories poured into his mind's eye—he saw his younger self squatted dangerously close to the river, resting from searching for that little girl or his mother's spirit. After a few moments, little Ichigo stood up, his raincoat nearly engulfing him and faced Ichigo. His younger self's eyes were red and puffy with a deep frown wrinkling his face. Ichigo's bottom lip quivered, and he shut his eyes, shaking the image from his head. This was too much to bear.
"—go!" a voice called out. Ichigo turned toward the voice and saw his classmate, Inés, standing at the top of the sloped riverbank. She had a clear umbrella open above her head and a convenience store bag in her free hand. The dark-skinned girl carefully hopped down the stairs towards Ichigo, her yellow rain boots splashing water along the way. Inés wore a light green knee-length dress with a cropped dark yellow cardigan that has sleeves to her elbows. Compared to the rainy, drab, and grey world around them, Inés was certainly a burst of color.
"Ichigo, it's pouring. Why are you outside?" The plastic bag rustled in Inés' hands as she signed. Her eyebrows were furrowed slightly, a small pout on her lips as she paused signing for a moment. Taking a deep breath and swallowing the lump in his throat, Ichigo took the umbrella into his hand so Inés can sign properly. "I can give you dry clothes at my place. Are you up for that?"
Inés' dark brown eyes blinked a few times, taking in his appearance. Not wanting to meet her concerned glance, Ichigo looked away but nodded stiffly. Always the gentleman, he switched the umbrella to his right hand and Inés moved to his right so that she wasn't in danger of getting splashed by passing cars. He offered to take the store bag off Inés' hands, though she refused to relinquish it from her hands. Instead during their walk, Inés opted to hold Ichigo's free hand. From the softness of her hands to the nurturing aura of her soul, there was always comfort emanating from Inés. It was truly grounding for Ichigo—he didn't dwell on the image of his younger self near the edge of the river, nor about the events that occurred in the past few days.
Before he knew it, they stood in front of the Furuta residence. Inés opened the gate and led Ichigo inside. Closing the umbrella and placing it in its cone in the genkan, Ichigo toed his drenched sneakers off and tucked his feet in his usual pair of dark blue slippers that jokingly had '15' embroidered on them.
"Please excuse the intrusion," Ichigo greeted as he stepped up into Inés' home. As Inés walked towards the kitchen and turned on its light, Ichigo noted the low lighting in the home. The kitchen was the only brightly lit area; there were two lamps softly lit in the hallway leading to the living room. It wasn't unwelcoming, but it stood a contrast from what Ichigo ran away from.
"When it rains, I like to keep it dim. It's calming for me," Inés returned from the kitchen with an oval tub in her hands. Inés' words were soft, just barely registering in Ichigo's ears. "Put your wet clothes in here and leave it outside the washroom. I'll run your clothes in the dryer, and I'll lend you some clothes." Ichigo slowly took the small bucket. "Hey, Ichigo…? Are you with me?" Inés lightly touched his arm, and Ichigo could tell she was unsure.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good," Ichigo replied softly. "I heard you, leave the clothes in this for you."
With a nod, Inés led Ichigo up the stairs towards the washroom. The overhead lights automatically turned on with a soft yellow lighting. Once there, Inés turned on the light in the washroom then walked down the hallway to the laundry room. After stepping into washroom, Ichigo peeled the cold, wet clothes from his body, wringing each article of rainwater before placing them in the bin. He placed the bin outside the door as instructed and locked the door.
Warm water showered over Ichigo's body, exhaustion, and chill evaporating from his bones. Unwanted flashbacks of the destruction that Yhwach and the Quincy laid upon the Soul Society reared in his head. A reel of images rolled through his mind; Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya, bloodied and battered; the voices of countless shinigami calling for him; his Fullbring laid before him in pieces. Events that occurred a month earlier began to appear—reliving the suffering that Ginjo and Tsukishima put him through. The brainwashing of his friends and family; Inés injured by—Stop, stop, stop! That's enough!
Ichigo beat his fists against the cool tile, surprisingly not cracking them under his strength. Finally opening his eyes, he watched the water swirl around the drain. His heaving chest slowed as he breathed in through his nose and exhaled slowly. Eventually the chills returned as the water temperature dropped forcing Ichigo to turn off the water. Fingers and toes pruned, Ichigo watched the last of the water swirl in the drain, along with the torturous images. After a few minutes, a soft knock rapped against the door.
"You can use the green towel behind the door. Clean clothes are on this table outside." Footsteps retreated from the door.
Ichigo grabbed said towel and vigorously dried his hair and face before the rest of his body. Ichigo quickly grabbed the clothes: a set of navy-blue sweatpants and matching sweatshirt. The soft fleece of the pants kept his body heat well. Wiping the mirror from condensation, Ichigo stared at his reflection; he no longer looked pale, but purple half-moon bags marred his light brown eyes. With a heavy sigh, he splashed cold water in an attempt to recirculate blood in his face.
Exiting the washroom and about to head downstairs, Ichigo noticed a light on in the room across. It was Inés' room—a large cartoon frog plush sat in the corner of the bed tucked next to the bay window. It was the prize he won for Inés when she took him and his sisters to the Yokohama amusement park last summer. The plush caved in a bit around its middle, clearly loved from the hours spent being hugged. A small smile tugged on Ichigo's lips, reminiscing that day.
It was the first Saturday of August, and the late morning sun shone brightly over Karakura Town. With low humidity and comfortable temperatures, it was a perfect day for an outing. Ichigo stood on the train platform with his sisters on either side of him. Dressed coolly, Ichigo wore a fitted light blue t-shirt that faded into white, twelve black dots arranged in a rectangle on the chest, paired with fitted jeans.
Yuzu, ever the playful one, excitedly talked about the amusement park to Karin who, in her usual hardened demeanor rolled her eyes, but couldn't fight the small smile tugging on her lips. Yuzu was dressed in a light pink dress with white frills on the sleeves and the hem of the dress, while Karin opted for a more comfortable look with a loose-fitting t-shirt paired with jean shorts.
"Ichi-nii, Inés-chan will be here soon? I haven't seen her yet," Yuzu questioned from his left, playing with the hem of her dress.
Adjusting the strap of his sister's backpack, he pulled his cellphone from his back pocket. The last text from Inés was 9 minutes ago:
イネス: i'm so sorry ichigo （◞‸◟） 09:26
but i'll have to meet you guys at the station instead of walking together… 09:26
just make sure you guys are on track 2 09:27
"She's just running a little late. She'll be here soon." Ichigo comfortingly placed a hand on top of Yuzu's head.
As the train pulled into Track 1, Ichigo spotted Inés jogging up the steps onto their track, rushing towards them. Her dark hair and wire-framed glasses bounced with each hurried step. She wore a black cropped shirt with pastel flowers, paired with dark denim overalls.
"Sorry I'm late! I thought I had everything ready, but then I couldn't find my wallet," Inés panted, catching her breath as she reached them. Her cheeks were flushed from the sprint, sweat dotting her forehead, but a bright smile flashed on her face. "We still have plenty of time, the train arrives in ten minutes."
Inés pulled their train tickets from her sling backpack and handed them out. She cautioned to Yuzu and Karin to secure their tickets until they got on the train. Yuzu was practically vibrating with excitement as she held onto her ticket tightly.
The train arrived on time onto Track 2, the rattling of the tracks echoing through the station. As they stepped onto the train, the outside world increased tenfold in color and vibrancy through the windows. Inés sat on a seat next to the door, then Yuzu and Karin sat next to her with Ichigo flanking Karin. Yuzu began chatting excitedly with Inés about the rides they could go on. Karin, leaning her head back slightly against the window, subtly keeping watch of the other passengers. Ichigo leaned back, his heart racing not just in anticipation of the upcoming rides but the joy radiating from his sisters.
Today was a chance for his sisters, especially Yuzu, who usually took on the caretaker role, to let loose and be kids. Today was for worries to fly away in exchange for cotton candy and thrill rides.
"Welcome to Minatomirai. Next stop: Minatomirai Station. Please watch your step when exiting the train."
"That's our stop. It's a ten-minute walk to Cosmo World," Inés explained, adjusting her sling backpack, and motioned for the group to follow her as the train pulled into the station.
The walk to the amusement park was filled with laughter as Yuzu couldn't bear to hide her excitement any longer. Once they arrived, the smell of buttery popcorn and sugary cotton candy wafted through the air, energizing the sisters.
"Let's try the carousel first!" Yuzu sprinted off, her giggles trailing behind her. Ichigo followed closely, Karin and Inés by his side, and they hopped onto the vibrant horses.
As the day wore on, they took on thrilling roller-coasters that had them screaming and laughing, sharing snacks that had a bit too much sugar and not enough substance, and trying their hand at the booth games. Ichigo's heart warmed as he watched Inés, a competitive athlete, breeze through the games. She quickly amasses trinkets for his sisters and herself, collecting key-chains and buttons. She also won small plush prizes, handing them to Karin and Yuzu with a twinkling smile. Karin tried to feign indifference, but her eyes sparked with joy as she clutched a stuffed dragon.
"I've got quite the haul, too bad I'm out of tokens," Inés lamented, digging into her pockets dramatically. "Ichigo, it's your turn!" She nudged Ichigo playfully toward a booth that displayed absolutely adorable plush frogs. They sported a large head with puffy cheeks that had a patch of pink on them. In between the pink cheeks, their faces were small with black dots as eyes and a V-shaped mouth.
A competitive spirit rose within him as he dropped tokens into the attendant's hand. The attendant pushed a bucket filled with bean bags forward. The weight of the bean bags felt foreign in his hands, but Ichigo let his muscles take over. He hit one, two, three targets in a row, knocking the bottles over with a loud 'clang.'
Inés jumped and cheered when the attendant handed her the frog plush. She cradled it with delight, thanking Ichigo with a tight hug. Wanting to commemorate the prize, Inés pulled her camera from her backpack, her smile widening as she pulled Ichigo for photos. Ichigo's face flushed at the closeness of their bodies and turned even redder when Inés placed a quick kiss on his cheek as she snapped one last photo.
"Hey Ichigo, are you– oh! um…" Inés' mouth formed a small 'o' and turned away while Ichigo shot her a confused look. After a moment, Inés turned back around to face Ichigo, but her eyes were closed.
{Your shirt} she signed.
Ichigo looked down: he was at the bottom of the stairs, shirtless and tying the sweatpants taut on his hips. The sweatshirt was tucked under his arm. He was so lost in his recollection he had no idea he was even walking. Quickly, Ichigo pulled the sweatshirt over his head, his face colored as red as a strawberry.
"S-sorry!"
Inés slowly opened one eye and sighed in relief when she observed him fully dressed. Even in the low lighting, Ichigo noted that Inés was a little flushed, "It's okay. I was going to ask if you were hungry. I prepared the food I bought at the konbini."
As if on command, Ichigo's stomach growled loudly. If Ichigo's face could turn any redder, he'd turn into an actual strawberry, especially when Inés doubled over in laughter. After Inés composed herself, Ichigo followed her to the kitchen, where two steaming bowls of ramen sat on the table in the center of the room; two sandwiches and large steaming buns laid on plates next to each ramen bowl.
The two teens ate in silence. Inés starting with her egg sandwich while Ichigo slurped his ramen ravenously, chopsticks clicking against the ceramic bowl. Despite feasting on Hikifune's food back in the Royal Palace, Ichigo burned the energy battling Ōetsu's Asauchi. Just how long had it been since he's been fighting? It started with that Quincy that rudely stepped on his bed; then he went to Hueco Mundo to fight that Jailer Quincy, that bastard Yhwach, and the Asauchi. It had to have been at least four days. Ichigo was just exhausted and couldn't help getting riled up about Yhwach.
In the two years since he became a Substitute Shinigami, there wasn't an opponent that got under his skin like Yhwach. It was personal like with Grand Fisher. At least with his battle with Grand Fisher, his pride was left intact; Yhwach destroyed his Fullbring, the manifestation of his pride. After the bullshit he went through to obtain it, too?
"Ichigo…?" Inés softy called. She reached for his arm, just barely touching the back of his hand when Ichigo violently pulled away, knocking over his chair. Ichigo's wide light brown eyes stared into Inés' wide dark brown eyes, his chest heaving. Adrenaline ran through his veins and upon observing Inés' alarmed form, he stared taking deep breaths.
"Shit… I didn't mean to scare you; I was caught up in my head and wasn't expecting to be touched." Apologizing, Ichigo picked up the chair. "A lot has happened since we last talked." To reassure Inés, he softened his posture and reached towards her, moving aside the bowl of ramen.
Inés took a moment to gaze at Ichigo's outstretched hands. She reached over tentatively and touched her fingertips in his palms. Ichigo's hands gently held hers, thumbs rubbing lightly over the back of her hands, eyes soft with comfort. Inés had the habit of chewing her bottom lip when she was nervous about talking without signing. Ichigo had known she was making progress especially lately, so to encourage her, he kept her hands in his and gave her as much time as needed.
"It's—I'm fine. I hadn't meant to scare you either. You looked so far away in thought, and I wanted to make sure you were okay," Inés finally spoke. "I missed you at school. It has to do with the Soul Society, right?"
At that question, Ichigo pulled away slowly. Taking a bite into the steamed bun, Ichigo simply nodded. "Yeah, it does. I'd rather not talk about it now if that's okay." What could I say? I got kicked out without getting my Fullbring fixed?
"No, of course it's okay. I don't want to talk about that either. I'm glad you're here. I need to apologize for the past few weeks… I shouldn't have been avoiding you, but after what happened with Ginjo and Tsukishima, I wasn't sure how to approach you." Inés nervously adjusted her wire-framed glasses with the knuckle of her left hand and stared at her half-empty ramen bowl. "I don't blame you for anything that happened, please understand that. It's just–"
"Inés, that's going to be hard for me. You were targeted because of me, so why are you apologizing for doing anything in response to that? It should be me. I was supposed to protect you, but instead I put you in danger!" Ichigo held Inés' hands firmly, but spoke softer, "You got hurt because of me. I was too blinded by my need to get my powers back."
Was it worth getting his powers back? Inés didn't have to get herself involved with him. She had nothing to do with Soul Society or what they did to the Fullbringers; she shouldn't have been a target. Inés was just a normal human girl, no supernatural powers, no ability to see ghosts or the like. Ichigo wasn't sure if it was a blessing or curse that Inés was the only exception to being affected by his uncontrollable reiatsu.
Then again, if it weren't for her, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to finally be a normal teenager after losing his powers. For the two years he gained shinigami powers from Rukia, there had been nothing but chaos in his life. When Inés appeared and became a constant in his life, there was a calmness that came with her he hadn't had in his life since his mother passed.
"I'm quite sure we already had that conversation, like, two days after it happened at the hospital. That's not what I'm talking about. I only kept my distance because a rumor spread recently kinda sorta about the incident with Ginjo and Tsukishima. Mizuiro has been working his magic and Tatsuki's helping by beating up people, but your delinquent image is almost unshakable."
All Ichigo managed to do was stare at Inés, confused as hell, as she continued.
"So… even though it doesn't make ANY sense, people somehow got the idea that you were the reason I was in the hospital. No one knows Ginjo or Tsukishima except for the ones who were directly involved. I'm surprised you don't know about it. I figured the student council would try and question you; then again, Ishida-kun probably has something to do with it."
"Wait, that's what's was going on? God, I was trying to figure that out, too! That explains… a lot," Ichigo busted into laughter when things fell in place in his head. Inés, caught by the contagious laughter, tried covering her mouth to contain her laughs.
"Right, isn't it so ridiculous?" Inés said between giggles. Her arm was thrown over her stomach, struggling to catch her breath in between laughs. Tears were rolling down her face. "They should know better than that!"
After a few minutes, the laughter died down and the tears started to dry on their cheeks. Wiping her cheeks with the heels of her hands, Inés stood from the table and placed her empty dishes in the sink.
"Your clothes should be done by now." Inés made her way to the laundry room upstairs upon hearing a loud chiming. Ichigo waited a few moments before following her, but not before putting his down empty dishes in the sink.
Ichigo paused at the top step when he heard Inés humming as she folded his clothes. Quietly, he paced down the hallway and leaned against the door frame of the laundry room. With arms folded across his chest, he watched Inés with a small smile, an air of domesticity forming in the room. Inés, not aware Ichigo was watching her, smoothed and patted down the black jacket on top of the pile.
"Ichigo, your clothes–oh! You're already here. You've got to stop sneaking up on me!" Startled, Inés pressed the clothes against her chest with a small gasp. "That's the third time today alone, you meanie!" She then pushed the clothes towards Ichigo with a pout.
Ichigo's frame shook with mirth, "Sorry. I really didn't mean to scare you." He reached to take the clothes from Inés when their fingers lightly brushed against each other. The touch lingered for a moment before they both pulled their hands away. Ichigo made his way to the washroom while Inés leaned against the door frame of her room.
"I don't expect you to tell me anything yet, but just know that you can come to me whenever. Whether that be over the phone or coming to visit, you are always welcome here. This is your home, too."
It was just loud enough for Ichigo to hear through the door. He hesitated for a moment to open the door; his hand lightly gripping the handle. 'This is your home, too.' If only Inés knew just how much that meant to him. Drawing a deep breath through his nostrils, he opened the door.
"I appreciate it, I really do. Once everything settles, we'll talk. Promise," Ichigo replied as he hooked his index finger under Inés' chin, tilting it slightly. Inés' gaze lingered on Ichigo, a mix of caution and expectancy in her eyes. Her glasses shifted on her nose slightly, catching the overhead light of the hallway.
"Thank you," he whispered as he took a step closer towards Inés, effectively closing the distance between them. Her lips parted ever so slightly, and Ichigo moved his hand to the back of her neck before lightly pressing his lips against hers.
The gentle brush of lips sparked a warmth that spread through Ichigo that brought back the good memories—the first time they met in their first year, their shared laughter, the near daily late-night phone calls. Their kiss lingered, sweet and tentative, as if testing the waters of how far they would go in their intimacy. Inés' hands found their way in his hair, her fingers twirling his strands around her fingertips.
Warmth radiated from Inés' body and enveloped Ichigo with a scent of vanilla and lavender. Her soft curls brushed against his forehead while their breaths synchronized into a gentle rhythm. Inés pulled him closer, her hands on his shirt, and before he knew it, Ichigo found himself stepping over the threshold to Inés' room. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the outside world ceased to exist.
They pulled away, their lips only centimeters apart. They exchanged stares, searching for an inkling of uncertainty in the other's brown eyes. Inés acted first; Ichigo felt the weight of her slightly shorter frame as his back pressed into the door. Ichigo cupped Inés' face, bringing their lips together again with a sense of urgency and want.
With hands on Inés' waist and a gentle nudge, Ichigo walked her backwards until the back of her knees touched the edge of her bed. They fell onto the soft lavender-scented sheets, her frog plush tumbling onto the floor. Ichigo hovered over Inés, hands pressed into the mattress on either side of her head, his knee was placed in between Inés' bent ones.
He barely registered how the flounce of her dress slid down to her upper thighs, exposing more of her soft, deeply tanned skin; or that the soft, puffy exhales from her kissed-swollen lips sent a thrill down his spine. All he could focus on was his heart pounding loudly in his chest and the way Inés' dark brown eyes twinkled with affection. With her glasses removed, Ichigo caught the moment the pupils in her eyes dilated to thin brown circles. Short, tiny curls framed her face, her cheeks and neck flushed, her tanned skin appearing darker under the soft light from a desk lamp.
She looked beautiful, ethereal even; the thought of Is this a dream? crossed both their minds. Inés reached to caress Ichigo's face, fingertips pressing gently into his skin, manicured nails gently prickling skin. Ichigo leaned slightly onto her as put his weight on his right elbow to place his left hand over hers.
"Ichigo, are you sure this is okay? You–"
Ichigo cut her off by slotting his lips against hers, a sigh huffing from Inés' nose. Ichigo slid his hand down her arm, down her side where he squeezed along her ribs before settling on the swell of her hip. Inés wrapped her arms around Ichigo's neck, pulling him completely on top of her, his weight not overbearing but comforting. Arms snaked around Inés slim waist and Ichigo pressed himself flush against Inés, the skirt of her dress crumpling on top of her hips. Soft grunts escaped their mouths as they were cocooned in each other's arms and warmth. Time escaped the teens as they explored each other more.
Ding dong ding!
A melodic chime rang throughout Inés' home, shocking the teens. They froze, uncertainty flashing across Inés' eyes while a frustrated groan left Ichigo's chest. Their intimate bubble had burst; the sound of rain pitter-pattering against the windows returned. Ichigo sat up, gently bringing Inés with him. The doorbell rang again, more urgent with ding-dong ding-dong! and Inés reluctantly untangled herself from Ichigo, smoothing out the wrinkles from her dress and fixing her hair.
"I'm not expecting anyone. Mamá is working a double at the hospital. She won't be coming home until tomorrow afternoon."
"I'll go check, you should stay here Inés." Ichigo stood up.
"It's my house and you haven't been in school lately. Besides, I look more presentable. You, um," Inés hesitated, looking away from Ichigo. Ichigo's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion before he looked down and he made an embarrassed sound. "So, I'll go down and you can gather yourself."
Ding-dong ding-dong!
Inés flung the door open and fled downstairs. Rubbing his hot cheeks, Ichigo took a few moments to gather himself before making his way to the washroom. Before he had his hand on the door handle to the washroom, the sound of a deep voice stopped him.
"Ines-chan, my future daughter-in-law!"
"Kurosaki-san, it's nice to see you. How can I help you?"
"Well, I'm looking for my son. I thought I saw him just outside the clinic earlier, but I lost him. I was wondering if he's here, or at least told you where he was going?" Isshin had a light smile on his face, but his eyes carried concern as he was worried about his son.
"Dad?" Ichigo stood at the top of the stairs, his heart sinking into his stomach, anxious seeing his father in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"
Why was he here? Did he know that Ichigo was sent back to the World of the Living because he failed? Was Urahara the one who told him? So many questions swam in Ichigo's head. He made his way down, dread weighing down his feet.
"You need to come home, son. There's something I need to tell you."
Ichigo felt a tinge of apprehension and disappointment. Leaving now meant stepping away from the new delicate world they had just shared. He glanced back at Inés, hoping for an indication of what to do. They locked eyes and, with a soft smile, raised her hands in front of her, wordlessly signing. {We can finish this another time. There's no rush. I'll wait for you, no matter how long it'll take.}
"It is getting late. You should go home, Ichigo."
Ichigo's expression softened at Inés' words, the reassurance in her eyes washing away his nagging frustration. With a resigned sigh, Ichigo made his way to the genkan, toeing on his now dry sneakers. Following his father, Ichigo grabbed one of Inés' umbrella, a silent promise of returning.
Kurosaki Iin (クロサキ医, Kurosaki Clinic)
As they entered the home, all the lights were off, and his sisters were fast asleep. The emptiness and darkness were a stark contrast to the soft-lit coziness of Inés' home.
"Whew, so you're finally back home, huh? I mean, it's not unusual for you to not come home for two or three days at a time," Isshin's eyebrows wagged suggestively, "but just because you got yourself a girlfriend? I didn't realize I raised such a delinquent!"
He clapped a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "Can't say I'm not proud of having another daughter! Anyway, feel like eating some of your old man's home cooking for once in a while?"
Ichigo stared at the hand on his shoulder and pushed it off, "Drop the act, dad. I'm sure you know what's going on."
Seriousness swirled in Isshin's dark eyes. "Yes, I heard what happened in Soul Society from Urahara, including your Fullbring breaking. The arrival of Squad Zero. They sent you packing, didn't they? I guess it's only natural; there's no way you could heal your broken "bankai" right now. Not when you don't know anything about yourself."
As his father went on with the accusation, Ichigo's top lip twitched. In an instant, his right hand went for the front of Isshin's shirt, pulling him close, breathing raggedly through his nose. "Old man, you've got some nerve–"
"You said something to me once, do you remember? You said until I decided it was time for you to know, you wouldn't ask me a thing, that you'd wait. Well, now's the time—"
"Oh, so it's convenient to tell me now instead all those months I spent powerless!? Why now?"
"You're not a shinigami nor are you an ordinary human," Isshin stated, nonplussed by Ichigo's actions. "Your mother, she was a Quincy."
Ichigo's breath caught in his throat, his heart beating thunderously in his chest. Ichigo recalled when Yhwach tried to stab him in the neck, something had stopped it. He said it was a Quincy technique; what was it called, Blut Vene? Yhwach also hinted a secret about his mother; was this that secret? How had Yhwach known about it in the first place?
Ichigo also recalled that a month after coming out of his reiatsu depletion-induced coma, he had spent time organizing his room and closet since Rukia was no longer his closet goblin. Left dusty and forgotten in a corner on the top shelf was a lacquered wooden box; the lock was a muddled, dull brass. A cross was painted on the lid and Masaki's name was etched in the bottom right corner.
After a few moments of staring at the box, Ichigo placed it back in his closet. He decided it wasn't worth dwelling on it any longer; the emotional pain of losing his shinigami powers was far too unpleasant to spend energy on this item. It's just a coincidence, that's all, told himself at the time. No other reason the cross was similar to ones he'd seen on Uryū's Quincy garb…
Ichigo allowed his father to recount the circumstances of meeting his mother and how they saved each other with no interruption. When his father repeated the metaphor of Masaki being the center of their universe, their sun, a guilty pang hit Ichigo's heart. When Isshin revealed to him the real reason his mother died, a mix of rage and grief gripped his heart.
"Nine years ago today, June seventeenth, the day your mother died; you need to know the real reason your mother died. Masaki wasn't supposed to die that night. Quincies have an ability called Blut. Every pure-blood Quincy is born with that ability. Although Masaki had some Hollow mixed in her, she was originally a pure Quincy. With Blue Vene, her defensive abilities were off the charts. Since we first met, Masaki did not sustain another wound from a Hollow after that."
"That day, it wasn't that I couldn't help Masaki. I chose not to because I wouldn't have been much help since I wasn't a Shinigami anymore. So, her losing was unthinkable; Masaki would have defeated Grand Fisher without sustaining a single scratch."
"What happened nine years ago was a systemic 'selection' of the Quincy at the hands of Yhwach called Auswählen. In Quincy lore, there is a tale that speaks of a sealed away king. The sealed king of the Quincy would recover his heartbeat over a span of nine hundred years, recover his intellect over a further ninety years, and over a final nine years, recover his power.
"In order to recover his own power, the Quincy King stole the powers of mixed-blood Quincy, who he judged to be 'unclean' and made those powers his own. Uryū's mother, Katagiri Kanae, whose body was weak to begin with, passed away as a result of this process. Masaki, due to being infected with a Hollow, lost her powers and was defeated in her battle against Grand Fisher."
"Why… why is he able to do a thing like that, just because he's their king? Just who the hell is Yhwach anyway!?" Ichigo was beside himself, indignation and ire coiling in his stomach.
"Yhwach is the forefather of the Quincy. He is the founder of the Quincy tradition. His blood runs in the veins of all Quincy."
The memories within your reiatsu have been awakened all too soon—
It is not capable of capturing a Quincy—
So, you truly know nothing, not even about your own mother—
Farewell, Kurosaki Ichigo, my precious son, born in the dark—
For years, he had blamed himself for his mother's death. Despite his father's efforts to comfort him after his battle with Grand Fisher, Ichigo hadn't been able to visit his mother's grave. It was a great relief to finally know he wasn't the reason his mother died, but it did little the quell the anger that ignited within him, knowing Yhwach was the one responsible. Knowing the truth meant that he can truly avenge his mother. Not just his mother, but all of Yhwach's victims in the Soul Society.
"There's one more thing that needs to be done." In Isshin's hands was a glowing zanpakutō with reiatsu faintly escaping the blade in wisps. "Urahara spent the past year and a half on trial and error before finally completing it. Everyone in the World of the Living and the Soul Society poured their reiatsu into it to restore your shinigami powers."
"Was planning on having this done before, but the Soul Society was attacked. Now that you know who you are, your powers can be fully restored. They might even come back stronger," Isshin explained, clapping a hand on Ichigo's shoulder with a wide smile.
Ichigo stared at the sword in his father's hands. He could faintly feel everyone's reiatsu: Rukia, Renji, Byakuya, everyone else in the Soul Society, the Visoreds, his father's. His brown eyes studied the hexagonal hilt, it looked familiar.
"I'm still mad you waited this long to tell me about Mom. But this," Ichigo gestured to the zanpakutō, "I-I don't know what to say. But why is your zanpakutō—"
Before Ichigo could finish, Isshin thrust the sword into Ichigo's chest. There was no pain, just surprise, as the blade dissipated into Ichigo's chest. As it disappeared, the reiatsu from the sword swirled around him in blue before turning gold. The red straps of the hilt wrapped around Ichigo's body, restraining rouge reiatsu close to his body. The last wisp of energy was absorbed into him and a golden glow burst and lit the room.
"Thank you everyone…" Ichigo looked at his father, determination burning hotly in his brown eyes, a blue glint flashed in his eyes before disappearing. "Despite how I feel, I appreciate what you've done for me. It's my turn to do the same for everyone now."
Sunlight poured into the kitchen, illuminating Ichigo, his orange hair glowing bright. With a new resolve, Ichigo made his exit, "I'm gonna go."
Isshin followed Ichigo, calling out, "Hey Ichigo! You said you were gonna go, but how do you plan on getting to the other side!?"
Stopping in his tracks, Ichigo realized his father was right. How did he think he was going to return? Ichigo tilted his side to the sky in contemplation until he noticed Inés standing against the wall of the clinic. She was no longer wearing a dress but changed into a pair of high-waisted denim shorts and a cropped t-shirt.
"Hey, Ichigo, you left this." Inés pulled something out of her pocket. It was his combat pass. "I came to give it back to you. I figured it was important."
"Thank you, Inés." He took the pass in his hand and placed it in his back pocket, its usual place. He then wrapped his arms around Inés, holding her tightly. Inés was stunned for a moment before returning the hug. "I'll have to go for a while again. Think you can still wait for me?" he whispered.
Inés nodded with her head on his shoulder, taking in his scent. "Yes. I said earlier that I would, it doesn't matter how long. Just make sure you come back."
"Of course, I still have your umbrella. And we have to finish what we started earlier," he teased.
Inés flushed before hitting his chest playfully with a loose fist. She took a step back from Ichigo, studying him. He stood taller now, no longer emotionally or physically exhausted. The bags under his eyes disappeared, his brown eyes held determination. He had every intention of coming back to the World of the Living, and back to her.
"Inés-chan, why don't you stay for breakfast with the girls? I'm sure they'll love to have you as a temporary substitute until their brother returns," Isshin offered, walking up to Inés with a fatherly smile. Inés nodded and waved to Ichigo while following Isshin into the clinic.
As they entered the clinic, Ichigo was left outside alone. He pulled the combat pass from his pocket and stared at it, the shiny surface reflecting in the morning light.
"Perfect timing!" A voice popped up behind Ichigo. "Let's go!"
Shocked, Ichigo turned to find Mera poofing into existence from a puff of smoke. Mera, still floating in the air, grabbed Ichigo's collar and yanked him into the Chōkaimon that appeared behind her.
Hōōden (鳳凰殿, Fenghuang Palace)
"The Chōkaimon that sent you to the World of the Living can't be opened without setting a strict round-trip time limit. The palace lord planned to bring you back after one night from the start. He said if nothing changed overnight, it'd be useless no matter how long we waited," Mera explained, tossing Ichigo back down into the pit.
"So nooooow you know!" Nimaiya slid behind Mera. Adjusting his shades, he took a look at Ichigo, noticing a change in him. "You look good. You should be able to do it now. Go on, the Asauchi are—"
Nimaiya observed the Asauchi kneeling before Ichigo as he talked towards a particular one in the center. Ichigo grabbed its hand, black peeling away to reveal a white Asauchi that resembled Ichigo's Hollow; its face completely covered in a mask.
"Niiice… c'mon up! I'll personally reforge it for you," Nimaiya smirked.
Ichigo and his Asauchi walked up to Nimaiya and Mera, then they were unceremoniously shoved down a water slide. Ichigo screamed all the way down until crashing into a large pool of water. There, he stared astounded at the massive waterfalls circling the cliff the Hōōden was built on.
"To dive head first even after I warned you of the dangers? I now see the true warrior in you."
"You were the one who shove me in head-first!" Ichigo rebutted angrily.
"Forget about that. Take a look, yo! This is the reason why Hōōden was built on a cliff! A bankai can't be reforged without these waters!" Nimaiya brandished his arms in a grand flourish. "And brace yourself, Ichigo. This is where you'll bid adieu to Zangetsu!"