Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by TM11 when this chapter was originally released. On April 1st, 2020, this chapter was edited again by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, Studio Pierrot... and other people.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
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"Hello." -Normal talking
"Hello." –Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Kon'nichiwa [Translation of Hello]
Chapter 27:
Previously in Chapter 23
"While I was working on the legal paperwork necessary for the Kurosaki Clinic, a major issue appeared," Sirzechs said.
"Even bigger than creating Kurosaki Misaki, long-lost identical sister to Kurosaki Masaki?" Ichigo asked.
"Even bigger than that."
"What is it?"
"It's about the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town."
"What about it?"
"According to various reports, the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town is currently abandoned."
"Abandoned?"
"Yes. It has been abandoned for the last few months."
"Last few months..." Ichigo's eyes widened. "Don't tell me... Isshin abandoned the Clinic because of Yuzu and Karin leaving him."
"I'm not sure. I called both the Clinic and the home phone number. No one picked up."
"Very well. I'll look into it."
"I will try to talk to Isshin and see if he's willing to sign this form." A small teleportation seal lit up next to Ichigo, and a piece of paper appeared on the counter. Ichigo picked up the paper.
"What is this?"
"It's a document that allows a business to relocate."
"Why?"
"It will be easier to transfer the Kurosaki Clinic from Karakura Town to Kuoh Town," Sirzechs suggested.
"I'll try to persuade him." With that, Sirzechs hung up. Ichigo sighed, realizing he needed to speak to Isshin personally. Ichigo ripped open a Garganta and was about to jump in when someone called out to him.
"Ichigo!" Ichigo turned to see it was Masaki.
"Kaa-san."
"Where are you going?"
"Don't worry about it, Kaa-san."
"Ichigo, you're ignoring the question."
"I'm going to talk to Isshin."
"It's about the clinic, isn't it?"
"It is."
"What happened?"
"According to Sirzechs, the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town has been abandoned for the past few months."
"Approximately the same amount of time since you left."
"Exactly. I believe Isshin has abandoned the Clinic. If so, I need him to file the appropriate forms to transfer the Kurosaki Clinic from Karakura Town to here."
"Very well, I'm coming too."
"Not this time."
"WHAT!"
"Kaa-san, if you go with me, it'll complicate things."
"Such as..."
"Explaining how you're in a body, why you haven't contacted him, and most importantly, do you still love him?" Masaki glared at Ichigo.
"I hate you so much right now."
"Do you see my point?"
"I do, and I am very angry at you right now."
"Okay then." Ichigo jumped into the Garganta.
Scene Change: Karakura Town
A Garganta opened up right outside the Kurosaki Clinic. Ichigo walked out to see his childhood home in disarray. The small lawn that had once been well-maintained was now dead and brown, with various weeds growing out of control. The windows of the Kurosaki Clinic were covered with a large sign that read CLOSED PERMANENTLY. Ichigo walked over to the entrance of his former home. He knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before letting out a sigh. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar silver key. He inserted the key into the door and unlocked it. Ichigo gently pushed the door open, and it slowly creaked as he walked inside. The window blinds were all closed, casting the house into darkness. Ichigo could see discarded instant cup ramen and empty beer cans scattered across the floor. He carefully stepped inside, trying to avoid the mess. He accidentally kicked a crushed beer can.
Tink. Tink. The sound echoed throughout the dead silent house. Ichigo could hear the living room couch creak with movement. He walked over to see someone struggling to stand up.
"You blasted brats. I told you to stop trying to steal stuff from here," Isshin said.
"I don't think you can call me that," Ichigo replied. Isshin quickly turned around, his eyes widening as he recognized the voice.
"Ichigo?" Ichigo could see the last few months had been very rough on Isshin. Isshin still had his brown eyes and black hair, though much longer than before. Ichigo also noticed that Isshin now sported a messy beard. "What are you doing here? Has living with your sisters been too hard for you?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm here to ask you to sign something." Ichigo handed Isshin the form.
"Which is…"
"I... wanted to relocate the Clinic to Kuoh Town."
"What?"
"I said, I want you to sign this form so I can relocate the Kurosaki Clinic to Kuoh Town."
"Why? Why would you want the clinic over there? From what I've heard, you don't need the clinic if you're working with that company."
"I think he might be thinking I'm still working with Kaiba Corp," Ichigo thought. "Who said that I wanted the Clinic?"
"Who else would want the Clinic? The girls are too young…" Isshin's eyes widened with realization. "Don't tell me… Masaki's alive?"
"She is."
"Then why isn't she here talking to me about it?"
"Because I didn't allow her to. I believe it'll be too hard for her."
"Why?" Isshin whispered.
"Because she is just like us." Ichigo sat down on the opposite side of Isshin. "She realized that with this new life, she wanted to start over." Ichigo pulled out two cans of beer from his mindscape's bar and handed one to Isshin. They both opened their cans of beer.
"How did you hear about me shutting down the clinic?"
"Our mutual friend was working on creating a new identity for Kaa-san and opening another Kurosaki Clinic when he stumbled upon some paperwork related to the Clinic."
"So… what are you going to do now?"
"Take the clinic."
"What?" Ichigo expected some resistance from Isshin.
"Go ahead and take the clinic."
"What are you going to do?" Isshin let out a big sigh.
"I don't know… I don't have anything else for me here."
"Why don't you go to the Seireitei?"
"Can't. I'm still technically 'Missing in Action' according to Soul Society."
"You can still go over to the Gotei and explain what happened."
"I doubt they would want me over there." Ichigo had enough of Isshin's depression. He stood up.
"Ichigo?" Isshin called out, but Ichigo ignored him and punched Isshin in the face, sending him crashing into a wall.
"What was that for?" Isshin exclaimed, rubbing his cheek. Ichigo could tell the depression had momentarily lifted from him.
"I'm trying to knock some sense into you, you stupid old goat!"
"Ichigo…"
"Why are you thinking like that?"
"But you left…"
"I left because I needed to find my place here in the Land of the Living."
"But the girls—" Isshin began.
"Technically, they were kidnapped, and I found them. At that time, they were still angry with you, so that's when they decided to move in with me."
"What about Masaki?"
"She feels indebted to me for getting her out of Hell and into a new body."
"I see…" With that response, Ichigo could tell Isshin's depression had returned, and it was stronger than before. Ichigo realized that the only way to rid Isshin of his self-imposed depression was to beat it out of him. He took out the trainer.
"Kyōka."
"Yes, Ichigo?"
"I need you to send me and Isshin to the trainer."
"Very well," Kyōka replied, appearing and taking the trainer. Before Isshin could realize what was happening, Kyōka zapped Ichigo and Isshin into the trainer. "I hope you know what you're doing, Ichigo," Kyōka thought to herself.
Scene Change: Trainer
Ichigo and Isshin appeared in a grassy plain in the middle of nowhere.
"Ichigo, where are we?"
"This is a portable training ground, a place where we can go all out without any worries."
"What do you mean 'a place we can go all out'?"
Ichigo ignored Isshin's question, shunpō'ed in front of Isshin and punching him in the gut. Isshin flew a few feet before crashing.
"Ow." Isshin groaned in pain. His eyes widened when he realized that Ichigo had shunpō'ed in front of him. Ichigo walked toward Isshin.
"But… how?"
Ichigo ignored the question. "Isshin, that gigai won't last for long. That punch fractured a few of your ribs. Please get out of that gigai now."
Isshin glared at Ichigo, pulled out a Gikongan dispenser, popped a Gikongan into his mouth, and ejected his soul. Ichigo immediately sent the Gikongan-controlled gigai outside of the trainer.
"Where did my gigai go?" Isshin grimaced.
"I sent it back out of the trainer. That way you don't need to worry about it."
"Very well." Isshin drew his sword from its sheath. Meanwhile, Ichigo got into his fighting stance.
"You're not going to get out of your body?" Isshin asked.
Ichigo smirked and raised his hand, beckoning Isshin to attack. Isshin shunpō'ed to where Ichigo stood and slashed upwards. Ichigo simply raised two fingers and caught Isshin's blade between them.
"Nani?" Isshin exclaimed, but Ichigo let go of the sword and punched Isshin again in the ribs, sending him flying backward. Isshin managed to stop himself from crashing by gathering reiatsu in the air below his feet.
"Ichigo is way stronger than before when we fought Aizen. How did he get so strong?" Isshin couldn't finish his thoughts before having to dodge a flying kick. Ichigo jumped back up with another flying kick. Isshin dodged again. Ichigo continued to attack Isshin with various kicks and punches. Isshin simply tried to dodge all of Ichigo's attacks.
"Isshin, why aren't you attacking me?"
"Because I don't want to."
"That isn't your call!" Ichigo snapped. This continued until Isshin overstepped, leaving himself wide open. Ichigo saw the opening, charged forward, and used an ax kick. Isshin realized he couldn't dodge it, so he stood there and accepted the kick when suddenly everything went black.
Scene Change: Isshin's Mindscape
Isshin opened his eyes to find himself standing inside an active volcano. He looked around to see the magma slowly darkening and cooling. Looking up, he could see dark clouds filling the sky through the volcano's opening. Suddenly, the dark magma began to bubble as a figure rose from it. The being's body was made of bright yellow magma, covered by dark red or brown rock. Its feet had an oval-like design with only two toes and one back toe (1). The being simply looked at Isshin.
"Welcome, Isshin," it said.
"What is going on, Engetsu?" Isshin asked.
"Straight to the point then…" Engetsu said as he fired a blast of fire at Isshin. Isshin dodged the attack.
"Engetsu! What are you doing!?" Isshin shouted. Engetsu ignored him and charged at Isshin with a katana. Isshin summoned his own blade to block Engetsu's strike. Engetsu disengaged before swinging sideways. Isshin jumped back, barely dodging Engetsu's strikes. Engetsu continued to charge, delivering multiple strikes. Isshin continued to dodge and block.
"Isshin, why are you not fighting back? Has time and age finally taken their toll on you, or is it about what happened to your family?"
"You should know!" Isshin yelled as he managed to push Engetsu back.
"Because you lost the will to live," Engetsu responded. Isshin stopped, and Engetsu grabbed some magma from below them, holding it up for Isshin to see.
"The magma here is very dark red; it's about to fully harden. This only happened once, and you should remember that time."
"When Masaki died…"
"Exactly. It took you a couple of months to recover from that."
"That's because you reminded me that I still had my children to take care of. But now, they've all left me. What's the point?" Engetsu could sense the magma cooling even further. He had enough of Isshin's defeatist attitude.
"Isshin! So what if your family left you? This is your chance to start over! Many of your fellow Shinigami have lost their friends and families, and they needed time to mourn, too… HOWEVER, they all knew they had to stand once more. After all, you told them this yourself!" The magma around them began to rise and form screens. The screens flickered to life, showing memories of Isshin when he was the Taichō of the Tenth Division. He was speaking to different members who had lost someone in the line of duty.
"Now is the time to mourn for your fallen comrades. However, don't fall into the clutches of despair. Honor their memories by standing up once more and fighting another day. Don't let their sacrifice be wasted on regret." Isshin could hear his own words echoing, repeating over and over.
"So, Isshin, are you going to follow your own advice?" Engetsu challenged.
"Why? My fellow Shinigami had a duty to stand up again, and I had my family to help me. But now, I'm just alone," Isshin replied.
"You could return to the Gotei Thirteen," Engetsu suggested.
"But I'm considered Missing in Action. If I return, I could be charged with desertion," Isshin argued.
"So? Did that stop you when you left your post to investigate that Hollow?" Engetsu shot back.
"No…" Isshin hesitated.
"So, what's stopping you from returning now?" Engetsu pressed.
"… You're pushing this a lot," Isshin murmured.
"Because you're no longer happy here. It's time for you to return home, Isshin," Engetsu declared. Isshin let out a deep sigh as he sat down, closing his eyes. He thought long and hard about what Engetsu had said. The magma around them continued to bubble and rise. Engetsu cracked a smile. "So, Isshin, have you made a decision?"
"I have." Suddenly, the volcano erupted, covering both Isshin and Engetsu in a burst of magma.
Scene Change: Trainer
Isshin opened his eyes to see Ichigo's ax kick coming down towards him. He quickly raised his katana to block it. Seizing the moment, Isshin fired a Raikōhō at Ichigo. Ichigo cracked a smile as the blast hit him directly in the chest, sending him flying a few feet. He managed to stop himself, his eyes narrowing in focus.
Isshin could tell that something had changed. The Isshin before had been full of despair, but now his eyes were full of life.
"Looks like it worked," Ichigo said with a grin.
"It has," Isshin replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Ichigo."
"Yeah?"
"You still want to fight?"
"Oh yeah. I want to see what 'The Second Coming of Yamamoto' can do," Ichigo teased. Isshin face-palmed.
"Uh… did Yoruichi tell you about that?"
"She did."
"Very well. Burn, Engetsu!" Isshin shouted as he unsealed his Zanpakutō. His blade ignited with fire.
"Wait. That wasn't the Engetsu I saw when you fought Aizen," Ichigo said, eyeing the flames.
"About that… when I entered Shikai during that battle, Engetsu wasn't fully awake. I had to use him purely for melee combat," Isshin explained.
"Interesting."
"Are you going to release Zangetsu or not?" Isshin asked.
"I could, but I think this Zanpakutō will work better against Engetsu," Ichigo replied, stepping into his Shinigami form and summoning Kōsetsu [Snowfall].
"Wait… another Zanpakutō?" Isshin blinked.
Ichigo ignored him and took a deep breath, holding Kōsetsu before him. The ribbon on the hilt began to elongate as he turned it counterclockwise.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki," Ichigo declared as his Zanpakutō entered Shikai. Before Isshin could react, Ichigo punctured the ground in front of him four times in a semi-circle.
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!" Ichigo unleashed a blast of ice-cold air. Isshin shunpō'ed to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. He watched in awe as the blast froze everything in its path for at least 10 meters (10.94 yards).
Before Isshin could recover, Ichigo fired another Hakuren. Isshin raised Engetsu.
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Isshin shouted, slashing downward to send a fiery Getsuga Tenshō toward the blast. The two attacks collided, canceling each other out in a burst of steam. Ichigo quickly stabbed Shirayuki into the ground.
"Daishi no mai, Juhaku [Fourth Dance, White Tree]!" Ichigo commanded. The ground around him trembled as long, narrow ice stalagmites shot up. Isshin barely dodged them with a shunpō.
"Is this all, Ichigo?" Isshin taunted.
"Not even close. Go-man no mai, Tsurarada [Fifth Dance, Icicle Fall]!" Ichigo called out. Icicles began to form above and rain down toward Isshin. Isshin dodged them with grace, but Ichigo used Tsurarada to set up his next attack. He moved beneath Isshin and turned Shirayuki upside down.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro [First Dance, White Moon," Ichigo said as he delivered a downward slash. From the ground beneath Isshin, an ice pillar shot up. Isshin saw it coming, but before he could react, Tsurarada rained down from above and from the sides.
Isshin smirked and shouted one word: "Bankai!"
The ground exploded in a storm of red steam. Ichigo shunpō'ed away, watching as the steam cleared. He was slightly amazed by Isshin's Bankai form. Isshin now stood 3 meters tall, his body covered in a bright yellow magma shell, with dark red or brown rock over it. Two pairs of arms sprouted from his shoulder blades (2), and a katana made of magma appeared in his right arm.
"Hageshī Yōgan-shin [Raging Lava God] Engetsu," Isshin said. Ichigo fired several ice projectiles at him, but they melted before reaching him or upon contact with his body.
"Come at me, Ichigo. You won't defeat me like this. Your Zanpakutō isn't strong enough to go against me," Isshin taunted.
"Shut up, Oyaji," Ichigo said, standing firm. "Nobody, not even you, Oyaji, can insult any of my Zanpakutō and get away with it." He raised Shirayuki.
"Wait… Zanpakutōs?" Isshin blinked, puzzled.
Ichigo ignored him as the sky above darkened, signaling the arrival of a storm.
"Bankai…" Ichigo murmured, as an ice pillar enveloped him, hiding him from Isshin's view. Moments later, the pillar disintegrated to reveal a completely transformed Ichigo. He now wore a white, ankle-length kimono with intricate patterns, complete with an ornate collar and wide, long sleeves. A small half-crown of ice adorned his head, and his shoulder-length hair had turned white.
"Saigo no mai, Eien no Shirayuki [Final Dance, Eternal White Snowfall," Ichigo announced. Snow began to fall all around them, quickly turning into a blizzard. Isshin stood his ground, his Bankai taking care of the falling snow.
"Is that it, Ichigo? Just more ice?" Isshin commented. Ichigo created a bunch of icicles and shot them at Isshin, but he didn't move. Unlike before, the icicles didn't melt as they got closer to him. The icicles pierced through Isshin's body. He looked down to see the ice sticking out of him. He tried to break or melt the icicles, but he couldn't. He attempted to move but found himself stuck as the ice began to form around him.
"Getsuga Tenshō!" Isshin yelled, swinging down at the ice surrounding him. His attack broke some of the ice. He shunpō'ed away from the ground, but the blizzard continued to rage around him. He tried to sense Ichigo's position, but the storm of ice and reiatsu interfered. Isshin suddenly felt cold, which was strange since his body was made of lava. He looked down to see his fingers and feet being covered in ice.
"Impossible," Isshin thought. Suddenly, he felt the sting of a katana stabbing him in the back. He turned to see Ichigo standing behind him.
"Ichigo," Isshin yelled. Suddenly, Isshin was stabbed in the front by another Ichigo. He turned and saw more copies of Ichigo, emerging from the ice and stabbing him from all sides. The ice was spreading across his body faster than before. The temperature continued to drop.
"Shit!" Isshin mentally cursed as more copies of Ichigo piled on top of him, pushing him down. He took a deep breath, realizing what he needed to do. He stopped resisting the ice clones and allowed them to pin him to the ground. Just as he hit the ground, he cracked a small smile.
"RAH!" Isshin yelled as he rapidly increased his body temperature. The copies of Ichigo began to melt. More and more clones piled on top of him, but he kept increasing his temperature until—
"Funka [Eruption]!" Isshin shouted. The entire pile of Ichigo clones exploded, sending ice, snow, and steam flying everywhere. As the steam settled, Isshin was left kneeling, breathing heavily. His Zanpakutō, Engetsu, lay to his right side. Ichigo approached him.
"So… do you give up?" Ichigo asked. It took Isshin a moment to catch his breath before he responded.
"I do," Isshin admitted. Ichigo smiled and released his Bankai.
"Now then, Isshin, you need to apologize to someone."
"Who?" Isshin asked, confused. Ichigo used Shirayuki to whack him in the head.
"OW!" Isshin yelled as he rubbed his head.
"You insulted her, remember?" Ichigo waved Shirayuki in front of Isshin.
"Oh. I'm sorry for insulting you," Isshin said.
"Apology accepted," Shirayuki's voice echoed as she appeared in front of the two.
"Was that fun, Shirayuki?"
"It was. I've never fought like that before. And congratulations on finally using my Bankai."
"No problem," Ichigo said with a smile, kissing her on the cheek. Shirayuki's face lit up before she returned to Ichigo's mindscape.
Ichigo snapped his fingers, and suddenly everything around them returned to how it was before the fight began. Isshin looked at himself and noticed his reiatsu was fully restored, feeling as if he hadn't just fought his son. Before Isshin could ask, Ichigo and Isshin left the training area.
Scene Change: Kurosaki House
Kyōka was sitting on the couch, reading a scroll about Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. She had left the trainer next to her while Isshin's gigai cleaned up the house. She was engrossed in Gamp's theories when suddenly the trainer began vibrating, signaling that Ichigo and Isshin were leaving the training area. Kyōka grabbed the trainer and pointed it outward as two streams of binary code flew out. The binary code slowly assembled into Ichigo and Isshin.
"Thank you, Kyōka," Ichigo said as he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Kyōka moved a little, and the kiss turned into one on the lips. They stood there for a few moments. Kyōka blushed brightly, grabbed her scroll, and quickly returned to the mindscape.
"Um…" Isshin began, still trying to process his son's behavior with two very attractive women.
"Isshin," Ichigo said, regaining his attention.
"Yes?"
"So, what do you want to do about the clinic?"
"Take it."
"What?"
"Take the clinic."
"But, Isshin…"
"No, Ichigo. It's time for me to return to Soul Society."
"I see. What about the legal aspects of the transfer?"
"I'll leave my gigai here to help with the transfer of clients to Ryūken."
"I see. What are you planning to do in Soul Society?"
"I'll try to live out the rest of my life in the Rukongai."
"Isshin, the Soul Society has changed since the last time you were there."
"It can't be that bad. The Central 46 will never allow major changes to happen."
"Isshin, the Central 46 doesn't exist anymore."
"WHAT?" Isshin exclaimed. Ichigo explained everything: the Quincy War, the rebirth of the Gotei, the destruction of the Central 46, and the changes in Captains.
"I see... With the new Gotei 14 in place, I wouldn't be able to stay in the Rukongai for long, would I?"
"No, you wouldn't."
"So how could I fit into this new Gotei?"
"I don't know… but they will find a place for you. If you want to go back."
Isshin chuckled.
"Then if you help me, I think it's time for me to return home." Ichigo summoned Yorugetsu and created a Senkaimon.
"This Senkaimon is modified to appear right outside the Tenth Division Headquarters."
"Very well," Isshin said as he walked into the Senkaimon. "Ichigo."
"Yes, Isshin?"
"I just want to say one more thing before I go."
"Go ahead."
"Someday, I want to see my grandchildren."
"Very well… Tou-san," Ichigo replied. Isshin cracked a small smile before stepping into the Senkaimon. Ichigo watched as the Senkaimon closed and disappeared into reiatsu. Ichigo sat back down on the couch.
"You can come in now," Ichigo said. The door opened to reveal Masaki.
"So, Isshin left?" Masaki asked.
"He did."
"So, what is going to happen to this clinic?" Masaki asked.
"Come here and sit down," Ichigo said. Masaki sat down in front of him. "Hey, Isshin's gigai, you too," Ichigo called out. A few seconds later, Isshin's gigai sat down between them. Ichigo turned to face the gigai. "Do you have a name or a name you want us to call you by?"
"Call me Hayate," the newly dubbed Hayate requested.
"Now that that's out of the way, let's start planning the future of the Kurosaki Clinic and the new one in Kuoh Town," Ichigo said, pulling out a sheet of paper and a pen. "The first thing we need to do is contact Ryūken and see if he's willing to take over our clinic." Ichigo dialed Ryūken's number and turned on speaker mode. He waited a few seconds before the call connected.
"Hello, Ichigo. What do you need?" Ryūken asked.
"Hey, Ryūken. Do you think you can take over the Kurosaki Clinic?"
"For how long?"
"Permanently."
"What's going on?"
"Kaa-san decided she wants to create her own Kurosaki Clinic in Kuoh Town. During this process, Kaa-san discovered that Isshin abandoned the clinic in Karakura Town. After discussing it, Isshin, Kaa-san, and I agreed to rent out the clinic and relocate to Kuoh Town."
"I see. I can do that, but I'll need to bring a lawyer to this meeting. Do you have one?"
"We do," Masaki said.
"Wait… we have a lawyer?"
"Yes, Ichigo. You might remember her daughter— you knew her when you were younger."
"Wait… It can't be…" Ichigo thought, "Mouri Ran?"
"Correct."
"Anyways, we'll all need to meet up, probably at the clinic, to formally transfer it to me," Ryūken said.
"Very well. How about 11:00 tomorrow?" Ichigo suggested.
"Sure."
"I'll be there under the alias of Kurosaki Misaki, Masaki's long-lost younger sister."
"Understood," Ryūken replied.
"Bye," Ichigo said, ending the call.
"So, we need to call Kisaki Eri, Ran's mother, and arrange a time for them to come here and talk," Ichigo said, pulling out his phone. "Do you think we should call her now? It's 10:00 PM."
"Normally, no. But since this is a business call, she shouldn't complain much."
"All right." Ichigo dialed Kisaki Eri's number and turned on speaker mode. He waited a few seconds before the call connected.
"Hello?"
"Hello. Is this Kisaki Eri?" Ichigo asked.
"It is. Who am I speaking to?" Eri asked.
"This is Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo heard Eri standing up and heard someone complaining in the background.
"Okay, Kurosaki-san, based on your last name, I assume this is about the Kurosaki Clinic?"
"Correct. Kisaki-san."
"All right, can we meet at the clinic around 10:00 AM?"
"That works for us, Kisaki-san," Ichigo replied as she hung up.
"Hayate, please clean up the house. We'll be back by 9:00," Ichigo said.
"Understood," Hayate responded. Ichigo and Masaki left the clinic and entered Ichigo's car, driving back to Kuoh Town via Garganta. Upon arriving home, they saw Kahlua, Yuzu, and Karin pulling out futons and laying them near the couches. Ichigo walked upstairs to take a quick shower and change. He passed by one of the unoccupied rooms where Kisara and Valiona were taking care of Xīng Chén while Kahlua was already fast asleep in another room. Ichigo entered his room to find Moka and Elizabeth asleep on his bed. He kissed them both on the forehead before taking his much-awaited shower.
Ichigo came downstairs in only his boxers, holding his training clothes. He placed them on a nearby couch and went to the couches where Eu, Dew Weiss, and Meringue Salveria were resting. Ichigo cast a modified privacy barrier around each couch. The barrier prevented sound from entering but allowed it to leave, ensuring everyone could rest peacefully while still being heard if needed. Once that was set, Ichigo laid down on his futon and quickly fell asleep.
Scene Change: Kuoh Town: Home
Around 7:00 AM, everyone slowly woke up. For a moment, they wondered if the devils had shown up and constructed the new extensions to their house. Once they walked into the kitchen, their doubts were quickly dispelled. The kitchen now featured a larger refrigerator and additional appliances. As they explored the house, they realized they were on the second floor. Masaki went down to inspect her new clinic. Yuzu began cooking a large breakfast, and everyone helped put away the futons and get ready for the day.
At that moment, Moka and Elizabeth came downstairs, both dressed in their Kuoh Academy uniforms.
"Good morning, Tou-san," Elizabeth said.
"Morning, Ichigo," Moka said.
"Good morning, Elizabeth, Moka."
"Thanks for installing the new shower system."
"No problem. Do you want some blood?" Ichigo asked, tilting his neck. Moka sat on Ichigo's lap, facing him. She licked his neck before biting down. Yuzu, Karin, and Masaki were mesmerized by the action. After a few seconds, Moka pulled away, and the wound sealed. Moka got off Ichigo's lap.
"Come on, Elizabeth, let's get you some breakfast." Soon, everyone was enjoying a peaceful meal when suddenly, a scream echoed through the house. Everyone stopped eating and rushed to the living room to see what had happened. What they saw shocked them.
Ophis, who usually appeared as a young girl with long black hair that reached down to her hips and black eyes, was completely different now. Her body had suddenly grown, becoming more mature. She was now five feet, six inches tall. Even her clothes had adjusted to her new form, the top revealing a lot of underboob. Her figure was slender, and her face looked more mature. Her black hair had grown longer, reaching her butt, while her black eyes and pointed ears remained the same.
The most noticeable change, however, was her stomach—it was large as if she were pregnant. Suddenly, Ophis let out another scream of pain. Ichigo looked closely and noticed blood dripping from her. Everyone except for Eu seemed to realize what was happening.
"Yuzu, go get some warm water! Karin and Kahlua, go get towels!" Masaki ordered. The three girls rushed off to gather the necessary items.
"Kaa-san, do you want me to bring her downstairs?" Ichigo asked.
"Can you gently bring her downstairs?" Masaki replied.
"I can," Ichigo said. He manipulated the wind to gently lift Ophis off the couch. Ichigo and Masaki carefully brought her downstairs to a private room in the clinic. Ichigo lowered Ophis onto the bed with great caution.
"Kaa-san, what do you need me to do?" Ichigo asked.
"I need you to be moral support for now."
"Okay," Ichigo said, pulling a chair over to Ophis's side.
"Ophis, are you all right?" Ichigo asked.
"It… hurts," Ophis replied. Ichigo extended his hand for her to grab. A few minutes later, Yuzu, Karin, and Kahlua returned with the necessary items. Masaki placed the towels underneath Ophis, while Ichigo grabbed one and began wiping the sweat from Ophis's forehead. The girls remained around her. Suddenly, Ophis gripped Ichigo's hand tightly as she screamed in pain.
"Ophis, you need to push slowly," Masaki instructed.
"Come on, breathe and push slowly," Ichigo chanted.
"AAAAAAAH!" Ophis screamed in agony.
"Come on, we're starting to see the head," Masaki called out.
"Push!" Ichigo urged.
"AAAAHH!" Ophis yelled as she pushed. At that moment, the head emerged.
"Good job, Ophis! You've got the head out. Now, for the rest of the body," Masaki said.
"Ophis, you heard Masaki. You're almost there," Ichigo encouraged.
"AAAAAHHH!" Ophis screamed again as the rest of the body started to slip out.
"You're almost done, Ophis. The body's coming out," Masaki reassured. Soon, the body fully emerged. "The body is out. You've got the le—" Masaki was cut off by what she saw.
Instead of a pair of legs, the baby had a black, reptilian tail.
"Final push, Ophis," Ichigo said.
"AAAAAHHH!" Ophis screamed one last time as she pushed. Soon, the final parts of the baby emerged. Masaki quickly used the towels and warm water to clean the baby. After cleaning her up, Masaki carefully wrapped the baby in a fresh towel and handed her to Ophis. Everyone leaned in for a closer look. The baby had pale skin and a small tuft of black hair. She had black eyes with slitted pupils, pointed ears, and small scales on her cheeks. From the waist up, she was about 38.1 cm (15 inches) tall, while her tail measured about 30.48 cm (12 inches), bringing her total length to about 68.58 cm (27 inches).
"This… this came out of me?" Ophis asked in awe.
"It did," Ichigo said. "Wait, what's the baby's gender? I don't want to keep calling her 'it' or 'the baby.'"
"Most lamias are female," Eu explained.
"So, a female snake name?" Ichigo mused. Everyone sat in silence for a moment, thinking of possible names. Ichigo casually glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time for school.
"Isn't it almost time for school?" Ichigo asked. Everyone looked at the clock and saw that he was right. It was 7:30 AM, and school started at 8:00. They quickly ran upstairs to change into their uniforms.
"Kaa-san, I'm going to check up on our other two guests upstairs."
"Okay, Ichigo. I'll give Ophis a quick check-up."
"Ichigo, I'm going too," Eu said. Ichigo and Eu walked upstairs to the living room, where Dew Weiss and Meringue Salveria were still asleep, unaware of what had just transpired. Ichigo approached them and dispelled the privacy barrier he'd placed the night before. He gently shook them awake.
"Where… where am I?" Dew Weiss asked, confused.
"You're safe," Eu reassured her.
"Eu?" Dew Weiss said.
"Before you start with twenty questions, how are you two feeling?" Eu asked.
"Fine, but I'm starving for some ramen," Meringue Salveria replied.
"Same," Dew Weiss added.
"All right, let me make you something to eat," Ichigo said as he walked to the kitchen. Eu then explained everything to them—from how she could speak without causing chaos, to where they were now.
"Eu… what are you going to do with the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners)?" Dew Weiss asked.
"It's in a safe place," Eu reassured her. Ichigo returned with two plates of food and handed them to Dew Weiss and Meringue Salveria. They eagerly dug in. After finishing their meal, Meringue Salveria thanked Ichigo for the food and his help, grabbed Dew Weiss, and teleported away. Ichigo looked at the now-empty couches with a sigh.
"Bye, everyone!" Yuzu, Karin, Moka, and Elizabeth called as they left for school. Ichigo and Eu walked back downstairs to let Masaki know they had left.
"So, does anyone have an idea for a name for the baby?" Masaki asked.
"Maybe something Greek-related since Ophis is the Greek word for snake (3)," Ichigo suggested.
"Maybe Medusa?" Kahlua proposed.
"No," Ophis said firmly.
"What about Nyx?" Ichigo suggested.
"Nyx?" Eu questioned.
"Nyx is the primordial goddess of the night (4)," Ichigo explained.
"I like it," Ophis said, smiling.
"Ophis, I'm going to give Nyx her initial check-up and create a medical log for her," Masaki said.
"Okay," Ophis replied, as Masaki took Nyx into another room. Kahlua followed Masaki to get situated as her assistant nurse. Ichigo and Eu spent some time talking to Ophis.
"So… why do you think your body grew older and forced you to give birth to Nyx?" Ichigo asked.
"I theorized that it was her body's only way to get rid of Samael's poison," Eu explained.
"By creating a child?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
"I think it was for my body to adapt," Ophis said. Ichigo and Eu exchanged confused glances. "The poison somehow managed to severely harm me—one of the strongest beings in existence. I believe that the child was created by fusing parts of me and the poison from Samael. That way, if I did die from the poison, there would be another Ophis, one with resistance to Samael's poison, ready to survive."
"Kaa-san, did you catch what Ophis said?" Ichigo asked.
"What did she say?" Masaki asked.
"Ophis believes that Nyx was created as a failsafe in case she died from Samael's poison."
"Um… who is Samael?"
"He's a Dragon/Fallen Angel hybrid who influenced the first humans, Adam and Eve, to eat the Fruit of Knowledge, and was cursed by God."
"I see. I'll make a note of that theory in Nyx's file."
"Okay. I'm going to go see Sirzechs."
"Why?"
"So I can see Odin and return him to his son."
"…Ichigo."
"Yes?"
"Why do you have Odin's son?"
"Because Odin requested a harsh punishment for Loki, and I offered to take Loki for a month in Hell."
"Okay… I guess?"
"Ichigo, I managed to figure out how to safely open the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים [Coffin of the Sinners," Kyōka said.
"Great. I'll talk to Sirzechs about it later."
With that, Ichigo ripped open a red Garganta and jumped inside.
Scene Change: Sirzechs' Office
Sirzechs and Odin were sitting in Sirzechs' office. Sirzechs was working on some paperwork, while Odin was reading a questionable magazine. Suddenly, a red Garganta opened up in the middle of Sirzechs' office.
"About time," Odin said, closing his magazine. Ichigo casually walked out of the Garganta.
"Hello, Sirzechs. Odin."
"Hello, Ichigo," Sirzechs said.
"Hey, kid," Odin greeted.
"Anyway, you want your son back?" Ichigo asked.
"I do."
"Okay," Ichigo said as he opened a red Garganta. Ichigo extended his hand, and a Chain of Hell appeared. He pulled the chain a few times. On the seventh pull, a man flew out of the Garganta and slammed onto the floor. Immediately, the man curled up into a ball and shut his eyes. Despite the man's curled position, Odin and Sirzechs immediately recognized him.
Before Loki was sent to Hell, he had the appearance of a handsome man with delinquent-like eyes. He had light blue hair that floated behind him, with two small bangs. Loki also had a blue jewel on his forehead and yellow earrings. His robes were similar to Odin's but in white. But that was Loki a month ago. The Loki before them now was skinnier. His hair, once light blue, was now a messy, dull white. He no longer wore the blue jewel on his forehead or the yellow earrings. His attire consisted of a plain white kimono, and his wrists and ankles were bound by rusted metal cuffs—presumably from the Chains of Hell.
"Loki, son of Odin, rise so your father can see you again," Ichigo said.
Odin was shocked when Loki slowly stood up and hugged him.
"L-Loki."
"Faðir [Father," Loki said, embracing his father. Odin was stunned to hear his son call him that in Norse.
"Sonr [Son," Odin replied. Ichigo and Sirzechs shared a smile at this touching father-son moment. Ichigo glanced at his watch, realizing he still needed to speak to Sirzechs privately. He cleared his throat to regain their attention.
"Loki, your month of Hell is over," Ichigo said, summoning Ryūgonken to break the Chains of Hell on Loki. Loki slowly moved his right hand over to his left wrist and wrapped his fingers around it. He held it tight for a few seconds before slowly letting go.
"I'm… free… I'm FREE!" Loki shouted, only to cough abruptly.
"Loki!" Odin said, gently pulling him into a hug. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, Faðir. My body still needs to recover from Hell."
"Very well. Thank you, Ichigo," Odin said, summoning a teleportation circle to return to Asgard.
"Well… that went well," Sirzechs commented.
"It did."
"Do you have anything else?"
"I do. How's the tracking of the remnants of the Khaos Brigade?"
"It's very difficult. The true leader of the Khaos Brigade was smart enough to organize their group in a way where no one knows everything."
"Interesting. You might want to know that the true leader of the Khaos Brigade is now leading a subdivision called Qlippoth."
"Qlippoth?"
"Yes. Qlippoth is run by someone named Rizevim, assisted by a man named Euclid and Samael." Sirzechs stared at Ichigo with a serious expression.
"Ichigo, who's your source?"
"It's Eu and Ophis."
"What?" Ichigo proceeded to explain everything to Sirzechs, including Eu and Ophis's adventure. He mentioned the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners) and their encounter with Qlippoth, but he didn't mention Ophis's injury or the creation of Nyx.
"So, where is the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners)?"
"I have it. Kyōka managed to figure out how to unseal it."
"Really?" Sirzechs asked.
"Indeed," Ichigo said.
"I need to gather the other three Maou," Sirzechs said as he pulled out his phone and called the remaining Maous. Five minutes later, the other three Maou appeared.
"Allow me to send us to a safe place," Ajuka said, as a green magic circle appeared around them. It teleported them into a pocket dimension. "This is my experimental dimension, used to test my new inventions." Ichigo summoned the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners) and placed it on the ground. Kyōka appeared.
"Before you unseal the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners)," Sirzechs interrupted. "Will Lucifer, Belphegor, Mammon, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Satan, and Asmodeus still be sane?"
"I'm honestly not sure," Kyōka began. "The ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners) was designed to trap them and slowly drain their powers for Belial and her minions."
"I see…" Sirzechs said. "So, hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
Kyōka nodded. She turned to the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners), summoning her blade. With one swift slash, she broke the ארון הקבורה של החוטאים (Coffin of the Sinners). A torrent of demonic energy burst out of the broken Coffin. Everyone stared as the demonic energy coalesced into seven orbs. Words began to appear on the orbs. All the devils recognized them immediately.
"They're the Seven Deadly Sins," Sirzechs recognized. Four of the orbs shot toward the Maou. The Maou grit their teeth as their bodies absorb the Sins. They glowed red as Hell reiatsu flowed around them. Ichigo could feel their power growing. After a few moments, the glow faded and the surge of Hell reiatsu subsided.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, Ichigo," Sirzechs said with a small smile. The other Maou cracked small smiles as well. "You have no idea the gift you just gave us."
Ichigo looked confused.
Sirzechs chuckled at Ichigo's puzzled expression. "Some of the older devils don't respect us because we may have taken the Maou title, but we didn't have the Sin associated with it."
"Until now!" Serafall cheered as she hugged Ichigo.
"Though some of us don't have matching Sin and Title," Ajuka commented.
"I'm known as Leviathan, but I got Lust," Serafall said.
"I'm known as Asmodeus, but I got Sloth," Falbium said with a yawn.
"I'm known as Beelzebub, but I got Greed," Ajuka said.
"I'm known as Lucifer, but I got Pride," Sirzechs proudly smirked, the only one to receive the correct pairing. The other sins floated there for a moment before vanishing.
"Where did they go?" Ichigo asked. The four Maou closed their eyes.
"It's fine, Ichigo. The remaining Sins returned to Hell, where we can call upon them if we find someone worthy of their power and authority," Sirzechs explained.
"Okay then," Ichigo said, accepting the answer. "See you guys later," Ichigo said as he opened a red Garganta and stepped through. Serafall turned to Sirzechs.
"We owe Ichigo a huge debt."
"Agreed," Sirzechs replied.
"What can we offer him? From what I've seen, he has too much power," Ajuka said.
"Maybe a position in our government?" Falbium suggested, stifling a yawn.
Sirzechs thought for a moment, a smile slowly creeping across his face. "This might be very risky, but here's what I have in mind," Sirzechs said, sharing his plan with the others.
"That is so crazy," Falbium said.
"That it might work," Ajuka said.
"Let's get this idea started!"
Scene Change: Kuoh Town - Kurosaki Household
Ichigo returned to find Ophis holding Nyx in her arms, both fast asleep. Ichigo carefully placed a modified privacy barrier around them.
Ichigo walked upstairs and saw Masaki dressed in a business suit: a formal white shirt with a black business overcoat and matching skirt, a green tie, stockings, and high-heeled shoes.
"Wow, Kaa-san, you look good in that," Ichigo complimented. Masaki began to blush.
"I-I thought it would be a good idea to dress professionally," Masaki mumbled.
"I guess I should as well," Ichigo said as he walked into his room. Masaki walked downstairs and waited in the living room. A few minutes later, she heard Ichigo walking down the stairs.
"So, how do I look?" Ichigo emerged, wearing a matching suit to Masaki's: a formal white shirt with a black business overcoat and matching dress pants, a green tie, and dress shoes.
"Wow… Ichigo looks hot in that," Masaki thought.
"Why thank you, Kaa-san," Ichigo replied through the peerage link.
"ICHIGO!" Masaki screamed through the peerage link, hurling a couch pillow at him. Ichigo laughed at seeing Masaki blush bright red.
"Come on, Masaki, it's already past 9," Ichigo said. Masaki glared at him as they walked outside and got into Ichigo's car. Ichigo drove off until he found an abandoned alley to open a Garganta.
Scene Change: Karakura Town - Kurosaki Household
Ichigo and Masaki managed to drive safely out of the Garganta without alerting anyone. Ichigo parked the car in front of the clinic. They could see that Hayate had managed to clean up a lot of the trash around the clinic. Ichigo and Masaki walked up to the front door and entered the house.
"Hello, Ichigo, Masaki," Hayate greeted.
"Hello, Hayate," Masaki replied. They all sat down on the couch. The group spent the remaining time discussing their plans. Right at 10:00, the doorbell rang. Hayate walked over and opened the door.
"Hello, Isshin," a woman said with an older, feminine tone.
"Hello, Isshin-san," another voice said, younger and feminine. Hayate escorted the two ladies inside. The older woman, Ichigo recognized as Kisaki Eri. She was a fairly tall, light-skinned woman with long, wavy brown hair, shorter bangs framing her face, and a bun. She was slender but curvaceous, wearing simple black glasses and a violet dress shirt with a light purple overcoat and matching skirt. She also wore black high heels.
Right next to Kisaki Eri stood Mouri Ran, Kisaki Eri's daughter. Ran was a light-skinned girl of average height. She was slender but sported an athletic and curvaceous build. She had big bluish-purple eyes and dark brown hair, straight and hip-length, tucked behind her ears with short wavy bangs over her forehead.
"M-M-Masaki?" Eri stammered. Masaki let out a short laugh.
"No. I'm Misaki; Masaki's long-lost younger sister," Masaki replied as she stood and offered Eri her hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry, but you really do look like Masaki when she was younger," Eri said, shaking Masaki's hand.
"So I've been told." Masaki then looked at Eri. "So, you must be Kisaki Eri?"
"I am."
"So, who is this?" Masaki gestured toward Ran.
"Hello, Kurosaki Misaki. I'm Mouri Ran, Kisaki Eri's daughter," Ran said with a bow.
"Ah, yes. I remember when Isshin told us Kisaki Eri was our lawyer. Ichigo mentioned you," Masaki said.
"Wait, Ichigo's here?"
"Oh, of course," Masaki turned to Ichigo, who remained sitting. "Ichigo, why don't you go and introduce yourself?"
"Fine, Oba-san," Ichigo replied as he stood and walked toward the two ladies. "Hello, I am Kurosaki Ichigo," Ichigo greeted them. He decided to tease the two ladies by getting down on one knee, gently grabbing Eri's hand, and kissing her knuckle. Eri blushed at the gesture. He then let go and grabbed Ran's hand, kissing her knuckle as well. Ran blushed too. Ichigo could feel Masaki's glare from across the room. Hayate decided to intervene to get the meeting back on track.
"Hey, let's get this meeting started before Ryūken and his lawyer show up," Hayate suggested.
"Good idea, Oyaji," Ichigo replied. Everyone quickly sat down in the living room. Ichigo, Masaki, and Hayate sat on one side of the couch, while Eri and Ran sat on the other. Hayate brought out a pot of fresh tea for them.
"Ichigo-kun, why don't you change out of that suit and hang out with Ran while we talk with Eri?" Masaki suggested.
"Are you sure, Kaa-san?"
"Don't worry about it. If I need any help, I can call for you through the link."
"Very well," Ichigo said through the link. "Sure. Give me a few minutes." He walked upstairs to his old bedroom and changed into a white undershirt, a black jacket with the number 15 on the top right breast, black pants, and shoes. Ichigo returned downstairs.
"You ready?" Ichigo asked.
"I am," Ran replied. With that, the two left the clinic, catching up as they walked around Karakura Town. Without realizing it, they arrived in front of Furin Hall.
"Do you want to enter?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure." The two entered the dojo. Ichigo spotted Tatsuki observing a few sparring matches.
"Stop!" Tatsuki ordered. All the groups stopped and returned to their original positions. "Attention…bow…get out." Everyone obeyed and sat back down on the sidelines. "Now, who wants to go next?"
"What about you versus me?" Ran yelled. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. Tatsuki immediately turned to see who had called her out.
"Mouri Ran," Tatsuki said.
"Arisawa Tatsuki, Japan's current strongest under-21 karate girl," Ran replied. Ichigo vaguely remembered these two had fought in the finals of the last few tournaments.
"I accept the challenge."
"And I'll referee," Ichigo said. Tatsuki turned and saw Ichigo standing there.
"We'll talk later," she said.
"Fair enough," Tatsuki replied. A few minutes later, Ichigo and Ran returned wearing hand pads, leg pads, and head guards under their white karate gi, each with a black belt tied around their waist.
"Hey!" Ichigo yelled at the students sitting on the sidelines. "Pay attention to this sparring match." Ichigo turned to face Ran and Tatsuki in the middle of the dojo. "Ran. Tatsuki. Standard karate tournament rules?"
"That's fine, Ichigo," Ran replied, glaring at Tatsuki.
"Sure," Tatsuki said, returning the glare.
"Tatsuki, do your students know the standard rules?" Ichigo asked.
"No."
"Okay," Ichigo said, taking a deep breath. "This will be a one-round match between Mouri Ran and Arisawa Tatsuki. The round will last three minutes. The first to get an eight-point lead or knock out their opponent will win. All legal karate techniques are allowed and must hit the head, face, ribs, chest, abdomen, and kidneys for points." Ichigo announced to the students. He could see that all the students were sitting and watching closely. "Attention…bow." Ran and Tatsuki bowed to each other. "Fighting stances." The two fighters got into position. "START!" Ichigo yelled as the two sparred. Ichigo stood back, keeping score and timing the match, making sure the fighters didn't get too close to the students. Every thirty seconds, Ichigo shouted out the remaining time. As the match went on, Ran and Tatsuki increased the intensity, each trying to knock the other out.
"TIME!" Ichigo shouted as the round ended. Ran and Tatsuki each landed a roundhouse kick at the same time, canceling each other out. Both ladies were slightly out of breath.
"Good match," Tatsuki said.
"Same," Ran replied.
"Now, before I announce the winner, let's get a round of applause for our amazing fighters!" Ichigo said. All the students clapped. Ichigo raised his right hand. Everyone stopped clapping.
"Now, the winner of this amazing fight is…" Ichigo walked over and raised both Ran's and Tatsuki's hands. "...both Mouri Ran and Arisawa Tatsuki." The two glared at Ichigo.
Ichigo let go of their hands. "Both of you managed to score 15 points each." Before they could ask for another round, an alarm clock went off. Tatsuki quickly ran to the front of the dojo and turned it off.
"Students, hurry up and take your gear off!" Everyone, including Ichigo, Ran, and Tatsuki, removed the protective padding they had on. They quickly lined up. At Tatsuki's request, Ichigo stood in front of the left side while Ran stood in front of the right.
"Attention!" Ichigo commanded. Everyone stood at attention. "To the flags…Bow!" Everyone bowed to the flags. Tatsuki then turned to face the students. "To the head instructor…Bow!" Everyone except for Ichigo bowed to Tatsuki. Ichigo nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Dismissed," Tatsuki said. The students quickly ran off toward the entrance of the dojo. Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Ran waited for the crowd to die down.
"So, Ichigo…" Tatsuki began, glaring at Ichigo. "Are you back here permanently?" Ran decided to give them some privacy.
"No."
"Why?"
"Tatsuki, I left Karakura Town to move on. You know my secrets, and being here reminds me of what I lost."
"I see… So, what are you doing here, actually, and does it relate to why Ran is here?"
"It does," Ichigo replied. "Ran, you can come back." Ran walked back over to Ichigo. "The reason I'm back in Karakura Town is because of the Clinic."
"What happened to the Clinic?" Tatsuki asked.
"Oyaji had a bad case of depression when Yuzu and Karin transferred schools and moved to where I lived," Ichigo explained.
"That's not it. Kaa-san wouldn't have been called if it was just a guardian dispute," Ran interjected.
"Of course not. Oyaji ended up abandoning the Clinic. Meanwhile, I managed to find my Kaa-san's younger sister."
"Wait… you had an aunt?" Tatsuki asked.
"Yeah… I just found out recently."
"Continue," Ran urged.
"Anyway, Aunt Misaki wanted to open up her own clinic. While we were working on the necessary paperwork, we discovered what happened. So, we decided to rent the Clinic to the Karakura General Hospital."
"From what I heard, the owner of the Karakura General Hospital is a very cold man," Tatsuki remarked.
"He is unless he's family," Ichigo replied.
"Wait… he's family?"
"Yeah. He's my adopted uncle from Kaa-san's side."
"Wait… you and Uryū are related?" Tatsuki asked.
"Unfortunately," Ichigo said.
The trio soon arrived at Tatsuki's house, where Ichigo exchanged numbers with her before they left. Ichigo and Ran walked back to the clinic and saw Ryūken and another older man walking out. They walked inside to see Masaki, Eri, and Hayate, all happy.
"Hello, Ichigo-kun. Ran," Eri said, noticing them walking in.
"Based on the reactions earlier, the deal went through?" Ichigo asked.
"It did," Hayate replied. He opened his checkbook. "Here's 248,000 yen for your service, Eri."
"Thank you, Isshin," Eri said as she took the check. "Goodbye, everyone. Isshin, good luck on your adventures. Misaki, good luck with the new clinic in Kuoh Town." Ichigo closed the door and looked at Hayate.
"So, Hayate… what are you going to do now?"
"Well… I did dream of exploring the world," Hayate said.
"You can, but are you planning to use Isshin's gigai?" Ichigo asked.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to use Isshin's gigai," Hayate replied.
"I see. Let me call Urahara to see what he can do." Ichigo dialed Urahara's number. A few seconds later, the call connected.
"Hello, Ichigo. What can I do for you?" Urahara asked.
"Hey, Kisuke, I was wondering if you can change the appearance of a gigai?"
"You can. However, it requires the soul to be ejected from the body, and then you need to cast a special kidō," Urahara explained.
"Okay. What's the special kidō?"
Urahara explained the kidō to Ichigo.
"Thanks," Ichigo said as he hung up.
"Hayate, can you eject your pill?" Ichigo asked.
"I can, but I'll need some help."
Ichigo walked over and stood behind Hayate, wrapping his arms around Hayate's waist. He placed one clenched fist just above Hayate's navel while grabbing his other fist with his other hand. Ichigo began performing the Heimlich maneuver. It took a few tries, but Ichigo managed to get the gigai to cough up Hayate's pill. Masaki caught the pill as Ichigo placed the gigai on the ground. Ichigo then placed his hand on the gigai's chest.
"Gazō o haki shite kūhaku ni modorimasu [Discard image and return to blank]." The gigai began to bubble and lose all of Isshin's physical appearance. In a few seconds, the gigai became an unused one, lacking all the physical details from before. Masaki handed Ichigo Hayate's pill, and he slipped it into his mouth. The gigai began to transform. It now stood 168 cm (5'6") with light blue hair styled into a bob cut. Hayate opened his eyes to reveal blue eyes.
"Are you all right, Hayate?" Ichigo asked.
"I feel good," Hayate said, looking over his new body and slowly standing up. Everyone noticed that Isshin's old clothes were too big for Hayate.
"Hey, let me see if I have any of my old clothes still here," Ichigo said as he went upstairs. Masaki and Hayate could hear boxes dropping and Ichigo sneezing. A few minutes later, Ichigo came down holding a few pairs of jeans and shirts.
"Try these on," Ichigo said, handing the clothes to Hayate. Hayate ran to the bathroom to try them on.
Ichigo turned to Masaki. "So, when do we need to vacate the premises for Ryūken?"
"He gave us a few days to take care of that," Masaki replied.
"Oh… I thought he would've wanted us to do that by the end of the day."
"Normally he would've said that, but because we're family, he gave us a few days."
"Well… I already took all my stuff when I left here. Do you have anything you want to bring with you?"
"I… don't know. I mean, Ryūken already presented all three of you with the Quincy Crosses I had commissioned."
"Wait… Ojii-san said that the Quincy Cross he gave me was yours."
"Really? Can I see it?" Ichigo showed Masaki his Quincy Ring. Masaki looked at it for a few seconds. "Yep, that was my old Quincy Cross. Why did you turn my Quincy Cross into a ring?"
"Because I feel more comfortable wearing it as a ring rather than wrapping the string around my arm."
"Very well." Soon, Hayate walked out wearing Ichigo's old clothes.
"How do they feel?"
"Like a perfect fit," Hayate said. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
"So, you're planning to explore Japan?"
"Yes."
"Here, take this." Ichigo handed Hayate 500,000 yen.
"But… but…"
"Don't worry about it. I have access to more money." Hayate accepted the money and stuffed it in his pocket. Ichigo grabbed Isshin's wallet, emptied all the contents, and handed it to Hayate.
"Thanks," Hayate said as he slipped all the money into the wallet. Ichigo took out a pen and paper, writing down his phone number and address in Kuoh Town.
"This is where we're living if you want to visit," Ichigo said, handing the note to Hayate. Hayate smiled as he placed the note in his wallet. He walked to the front door and then turned to Ichigo and Masaki. "Thank you for giving me this chance."
"Bye, Hayate," Masaki said as she hugged him.
"No problem," Ichigo said as they shook hands. With that, Hayate left the clinic. Ichigo looked at his watch.
"Kaa-san?"
"Yes, Ichigo?"
"I was wondering… do you want to have a party at home?"
"Why?"
"Well, I was planning to invite the other peerage members so everyone could meet each other," Ichigo suggested.
"Sure. I think it's a good idea." Ichigo sat down and began preparing to contact all of his long-distance peerage members.
"Hey, Tier, Nel."
"Yes, Ichigo?" Tier replied.
"Are you two busy at the moment?"
"Not really. Everything in Hueco Mundo is good… Why?"
"Well, I was talking with a few other peerage members, and they were interested in meeting everyone in the peerage. So, I decided to call everyone to see if they're available right now."
"Sure. Let me get Nel."
"Great. I'll be there in a bit." Ichigo ended the connection with Tier and opened another one to Yasaka. "Hello, Yasaka."
"Hello, Ichigo. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I was wondering if you and Kunou were busy at the moment."
"Kunou should be wrapping up some classes while I'm working on some paperwork… Why?"
"Kaa-san and I were talking about the various peerage members, and she mentioned that she wanted to meet everyone. So, I decided to have a little party at my house."
"I see… Kunou and I should be available to attend."
"Great, I should be able to pick you two up in a bit."
"Great. See you soon." Ichigo ended the connection with Yasaka and opened another one to Akua. "Hello, Akua?" Ichigo asked. He waited a few seconds and heard no reply. "Akua, this is Ichigo. Please respond." He waited a few more seconds before hearing a reply.
"Ichigo, is this you?" Akua replied.
"Yes, Akua."
"Why are you contacting me?"
"I was calling to see how your mission is going."
"…It's been very difficult."
"How come?"
"I managed to find the targeted demographic."
"Who?"
"The victims all appear to be children—more girls than boys—and their ages range from 6 to 18."
"Fuck. Any idea on the cause or where they're being kept?"
"No. I haven't found any concrete evidence yet. Just rumors from various villagers in the nearby areas."
"What are the rumors?"
"All of them seem to be walking toward Mount Kirishima."
"I see… So, what are you planning to do?"
"I'm planning to find the next victim and follow them."
"Didn't you mention these rumors from multiple villages?"
"I did."
"Do you need help?"
"NO!... I mean, I appreciate you asking, but I can take care of this. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"There is one other thing. I was wondering if you're available for a few hours."
"Why?"
"Well, I decided to host a party for all the current peerage members so everyone can meet each other."
"I see… I can maybe be there for a few hours."
"Great. I'll meet you at the entrance to the dimensional tunnels near Yusui," Ichigo said as he cut off the peerage connection. Ichigo stood up. "Ready to go, Kaa-san?"
"Yes, Ichigo," Masaki replied. Ichigo and Masaki walked out of the Karakura Town Clinic and locked the door. Ichigo drove until he found an empty alley, then opened a Garganta and drove through.
Ichigo returned home and dropped off Masaki. He opened a Garganta and drove off to Hueco Mundo.
Scene Change: Hueco Mundo: Las Noches
Near Las Noches, a Garganta opened as Ichigo drove out of it. Ichigo could see that Las Noches looked livelier, with more plants starting to grow, likely due to Guardian's influence. Ichigo walked up the steps and saw Tier, Nel, and little Jack waiting for them. Ichigo noticed that Harribel, Nel, and Jack hadn't changed since he last saw them.
"Hello, Ichigo," Tier said.
"Hello, Tier," Ichigo replied as he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Where's my hug?" Nel pouted. Ichigo chuckled, then hugged Nel and kissed her on the cheek.
"How are you doing, Nel?"
"Good. Jack, say hi to Ichigo."
"Hi, Daddy. We missed you," Jack said. Ichigo smiled.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, Ichigo," Nel said. They all walked down the stairs toward his car. Ichigo opened the car door for them. He adjusted the car so that the passenger area behind him was shaped in a U, enough to fit everyone. He closed the door and walked over to the driver's side.
"Ready to go?" Ichigo asked as he looked back. He saw Nel and Jack bouncing on the car cushions.
"Yes, Ichigo. We're ready," Tier said. Ichigo started the car. Nel, Tier, and Jack were startled by how loud Ichigo's engine was. Ichigo opened a Garganta and drove in. Next destination… Kyoto.
Scene Change: Kyoto: Yasaka's Temple
A Garganta opened in a secluded area of Yasaka's Temple. Ichigo drove out of the Garganta and right in front of Yasaka's temple, where Yasaka and Kunou were waiting. Ichigo got out of the driver's seat and approached Yasaka.
"Hello, Ichigo," Yasaka said.
"Hi, Papa," Kunou said.
"Hello, Yasaka," Ichigo said as he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Ichigo took a knee and hugged Kunou. "Are you two ready?"
"We are," Yasaka replied. Ichigo walked to the passenger side and opened the door. Yasaka and Kunou got in and met Tier, Nel, and Jack.
"Yasaka and Kunou, meet Tier Harribel, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, and Jack. Tier, Nel, and Jack meet Yasaka and Kunou," Ichigo said as he closed the door and ran over to the driver's side. Ichigo used his mirrors to check on the girls. He saw Yasaka and Tier politely talking while Kunou and Jack joked with each other under Nel's supervision. Ichigo chuckled, started the car, and drove until he found a nearby dimensional tunnel and entered it.
Scene Change: Kyushu Island: Yusui
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta and immediately stopped the car in front of Akua. Ichigo got out of the car and gave Akua a friendly hug.
"Hello, Akua."
"Hello, Ichigo."
"Ready to go?"
"I am." Ichigo walked Akua to the car and opened the door. Akua saw Tier, Nel, Jack, Yasaka, and Kunou sitting there.
"Hello, Yasaka-hime."
"Hello, Akua. For now, please call me Yasaka," Yasaka replied.
"Akua, you already know Yasaka and her daughter Kunou. Meet Tier Harribel, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, and Jack. Tier, Nel, and Jack meet Akua," Ichigo said. He closed the door as Tier began the introductions. Ichigo went to the driver's side and started the car. Ichigo opened a Garganta and drove straight in.
Scene Change: Kuoh Town: Kurosaki House
A Garganta opened in the backyard of the Kurosaki House. Ichigo redirected the car and parked in front of the house. He got out of the driver's side and opened the door for everyone to get out. Tier, Nel, Jack, Akua, Yasaka, and Kunou stared at the four-story house in front of them. The house resembled an apartment building. They noticed a large sign above the door that read "Kurosaki Clinic." Ichigo walked past them to the side of the building. Everyone followed him to see a set of stairs. Ichigo walked up the stairs, and everyone followed. He opened the door to reveal a modern-looking house. Ichigo guided the guests to the living room, where Eu and Ophis sat. Ophis remained in her adult form, holding little Nyx in her arms. Yuzu and Karin were taking notes of something Valiona was telling them, while Kisara held Xīng Chén in her arms.
"Hey, guys," Ichigo said. Everyone turned to look at him.
"Where is Kaa-san?"
"I'm coming!" Masaki called out as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Can everyone sit in a circle?" Ichigo requested.
"But I still have food cooking in the kitchen."
"I got it," Ichigo said, sending Yhwach to take care of the cooking. Ichigo sat down next to Ophis. "We're going to start with our name, the chaos piece that was used, if one was used, what being you are, and an interesting fact about you," Ichigo said. Everyone nodded.
"My name is Kurosaki Ichigo. I possess the King Chaos Piece. I am a Shinigami, Human, Hollow, and Quincy Hybrid. A unique fact about me is that I have ten different beings inside my head." Ichigo summoned everyone, except for Yhwach, who was handling the cooking.
"I'm Zangetsu, one of Ichigo's Zanpakutō."
"I'm Kyōka Suigetsu." Ichigo and Kyōka noticed Nel and Tier widen their eyes in surprise.
"Before you two comment, yes, I used to be Aizen's Zanpakutō, but now I am with Ichigo," Kyōka said.
"I'm the Hōgyoku, and yes, the same purple marble Aizen used to turn you two into Arrancars," Hōgyoku said.
"I'm Suzumebachi."
"We're Katen Kyōkotsu," Katen and Kyōkotsu said together.
"I'm Katen," Katen clarified.
"I'm Kyōkotsu," Kyōkotsu clarified.
"I'm Sode no Shirayuki. Call me Shirayuki."
"I'm… Yhwach," Yhwach said as he carried a few plates of sandwiches. "I used to be a part of Yūhabahha, but I betrayed him for Ichigo."
"Now, the best for last… I'm Mysteria!" Mysteria said as spotlights shone down on her.
"Mysteria," Ichigo said as he glared at her.
"Fine." She pouted as the spotlights disappeared.
"My name is Ophis. I am known as the Ouroboros Dragon, and I represent Infinity, Chaos, and Nothingness. I possess the Queen Chaos Piece." Ophis slightly raised Nyx. "This is my daughter Nyx."
"Aaw," the ladies said, seeing baby Nyx.
"My name is Eucliwood Hellscythe, but please call me Eu. I possess the other Queen Chaos Piece. I hate peeling fruit rinds."
"My name is Tier Harribel. I possess the Knight Chaos Piece. I am an Arrancar."
"Um… excuse me. What is an Arrancar?" Kahlua asked.
"Do you know what a Hollow is?"
"I do."
"An Arrancar is a Hollow that rips off their mask and obtains Shinigami powers," Tier explained.
"Interesting."
"I'm Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. Please call me Nel. I also possess the Knight Chaos Piece. I am also an Arrancar." Nel stopped to lift Jack up.
"I'm Kurosaki Karin, one of Ichigo's sisters. I also possess one of Ichigo's Pawn Chaos Pieces. I am a Shinigami Quincy Hybrid."
"I'm Kurosaki Yuzu, the other sister. I also possess one of Ichigo's Pawn Chaos Pieces. I am also a Shinigami Quincy Hybrid."
"I'm Valiona."
"While I'm Kisara."
"We're Ichigo's dragon familiars," they said together.
"In the past, we were known as the True Heavenly Dragons," Valiona said.
"I was known as the White Empress, Maiden of Destruction and Messiah of Light," Kisara said.
"While I was known as the Black Empress, Maiden of Infernos, and Messiah of Darkness," Valiona added. Kisara held up the baby dragon in her arms.
"This is Xīng Chén, a baby dragon that just hatched."
"I'm Yasaka, the current ruler of the Japanese Yōkai." Many were slightly surprised to see someone with such royal status here. "I possess the Bishop Chaos Piece," Yasaka said, ignoring their surprise. "In informal settings, you can call me Yasaka, but in formal settings, please remember to call me Yasaka-hime." Yasaka paused as she pinched Kunou's cheeks. "And this little troublemaker is my daughter, Kunou."
"Hi! I'm Kunou, the next in line after my Kaa-san. I'm ten years old."
"Wait. Kunou, you're ten years old? You look like a six-year-old."
"Ichigo, the reason why Kunou looks like that is due to Kitsune genetics. We age at a slower rate, and it also causes us to be pregnant for a longer amount of time," Yasaka explained.
"Ouch," everyone except for Akua, Tier, and Nel said.
"I'm Kurosaki Masaki. I am Ichigo's mother. Just like my daughters, I possess one of Ichigo's Pawn Chaos Pieces. I am also a pureblooded Quincy. Because I died before, I am under the name Kurosaki Misaki."
"Hello, I'm Shuzen Kahlua. I'm Moka's older sister and Akua's younger sister. I also possess a Pawn Chaos Piece. I'm a vampire who is trying to learn to be a doctor to help people."
"I'm Akashiya Moka. Both Akua and Kahlua are my older sisters. I also have another Pawn Chaos Piece. I'm a vampire and Ichigo's girlfriend," Moka said as she hugged Elizabeth. "This is my daughter with Ichigo, Elizabeth."
"Hi," Elizabeth said.
"Hello, I'm Shuzen Akua. Both Kahlua and Moka are my younger sisters. Just like my sisters, I possess a Pawn Chaos Piece. I'm a vampire, and I'm currently on a mission for Yasaka-hime."
"Akua, I thought I told you to only call me Yasaka-hime when we are in a formal setting," Yasaka said. Akua responded most appropriately by sticking her tongue out. Everyone laughed at this, and the conversations began. The conversation started with simple questions like:
"What's your favorite color?" "What's your favorite food?" "What's your favorite memory?"
Slowly, the questions evolved into more complex ones:
"How did you meet Ichigo?" "What abilities do you have?" Elizabeth practically dragged Kunou to her room to play when she got bored, while all the ladies were talking. Zangetsu and Yhwach returned to Ichigo's mindscape. Ichigo slipped away to start cooking for dinner. Slowly, the aroma started to travel around the living room. The questions shifted to theories about what Ichigo was cooking.
"Everyone go wash your hands!" Ichigo called out from the kitchen. Everyone quickly went to the bathrooms to wash their hands before sitting down around the dinner table. Yhwach and Zangetsu reappeared to join for dinner. Ichigo pushed a cart toward the dinner table. Everyone could see one large rice cooker on the first level of the cart with 26 bowls and pairs of chopsticks. On the second level of the cart, everyone could see 26 covered bowls. Ichigo began to scoop rice for everyone. Ichigo used Schrift V: The Ventus to pass the hot bowls of rice to everyone. He grabbed one of the mysterious bowls.
"Please don't open these until I tell you to," Ichigo instructed as he passed out the mysterious bowls to everyone. Once the last mysterious bowl was passed out, Ichigo sat down.
"Itadakimasu!" everyone shouted as they took the cover off their bowls. Inside, they found furikake. Unlike normal furikake, this one was made from chicken broth and egg curds. Everyone poured a little furikake on top of their rice. They were amazed as the heat from the rice melted the chicken broth, coating the rice and egg curds. Everyone eagerly devoured their bowls. The dish was so good that they ate bowl after bowl of rice with furikake. Ichigo had wisely made extra furikake in case it was needed. Eventually, everyone was full and began to slip into a food coma. Ichigo managed to persuade the others to stay for the night. He helped everyone get ready for bed before finally collapsing on his own bed and entering his own food coma.
Author's notes:
Heatblast from Ben 10.
Heatblast and Four Arm fusion. Both are from Ben 10.
If you type 'snake' into Google Translator, it will give you Όφις pronounced ófis.
Remember any uses of Greek/Roman mythology will relate to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.