Hi!
Chapter XXXII is in the house xD
Disclaimer, reminder and warnings all as per usual:
Friendly reminder: this story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC. For anyone who is not into YAOI, please do not read any further, this is not going to be your cup of tea :) By now, all of you who are continuing to read on and supporting me, I know you know what this story is about, so fear not and please read on :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, they all belong to Tite Kubo-Sensei etc., etc.
WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga and only watched the anime! Somewhere along the way might contain, but is not limited to include: dark themes, suicidal thoughts, heavy sexual contest, yaoi (again xD) and some other themes not suitable for under-age reader. Read at your own risk and discretion! :3
A huge Thank You to ZooFan and to all of you for reading :3
Still, I am giving a special shout out to ZooFan… your comments sure did make my fingers glide across the keyboard. Sorry it took me so long to post this baby, but that's all part of a sailor's life xD
I'll do my best to keep them coming, but I'll be honest… working on ships + writing… not the best of combos… I swear time management onboard is not an easy thing to play around with especially when you are short on people.
I'm so glad I am stubborn as a mule and persist in typing every chance I get xD
Please enjoy this Chapter is for you :D
PS I'm not that evil to kill Chibi-Ichi… just gave him birth and all… soon it will be clear what I was doing x3
Chapter XXXII
Neither bore witness to the horrific creature that materialized in the boy's chamber…
Isshin's fear for Masaki's health was enormous. So much so, that he did not realize his newborn son was not faring much better. He had hurriedly cleaned the baby, wrapped it in a warm blanket and taken it to its room, the nursery on the upper level.
The boy ceased his screaming several minutes ago, the very moment he felt the pleasant heat surround its tiny body. Believing that the child was fine, since it was not yelling, Isshin left the baby in the crib and rushed back to the clinic to save his wife's life. In the process, he missed the moment when his child opened its eyes for the very first time.
The baby felt lost. There were so many huge things all around, but at least it was cozy. Not that it could distinguish anything it saw, mind you. Soon after, the young one started having some problems. It was becoming hard to breathe and there was a foreign weigh pressing down on his small fame.
He was not aware that he himself was the one causing the unknown sensation. And, how could he? It's not like one was born with data or intel on how to regulate Reiatsu.
Considering the density of its Reiatsu, it was a wonder the boy was sentient at all. In normal circumstances, the parents were to regulate the energy's flow and thus naturally exhaust the child with little to no risks for the young's life. However, he was alone. There was no one to guide him, no one to teach him how to let his reiatsu out without hurting himself. And with the two persons below working diligently on Masaki with their own Reiatsu outputs, there was no way for them to comprehend the severity of the situation just a floor above.
Unable to scream for help and feeling fatigued, the little one closed his eyes. Powerless to do much else, he instinctively called for help. The unspoken request was answered by a terrifying creature.
In an unknown dimension…
'How many centuries have come and gone by now? Wait, centuries? Nay, millenniums… eons… It sure has been a while since that fateful day.'
Those were the thoughts of an individual, who resided in a dimly lit chamber, encased in a sturdy crystal.
'Urgh. If only I could rewind time, the same way I was capable to twist reality. Therein lies the biggest issue… I have long been stripped from my true might… Now, I am powerless… useless…'
Indeed, the being had not moved in ages. Not that it could, it was stripped of his arms, legs and several other bodily parts. You'd think a living being would have died from blood-loss if subjected to a sudden removal of limbs and organs. And your presumption would be correct.
However, the sulking person was not among the living, nor one of the dead. He was a creature that transcended all creations… a God you may say.
A long time ago he was beautiful, full of life and intact. He had been one of the several chosen ones to be blessed and gifted with the same privileges and powers of the creator, the Mother of Beginnings.
Perhaps it had been his lifestyle which angered his brothers and sisters… Maybe the many affairs… Could it have been the way he had treated the inferior and filthy souls? He had been awful regardless of whether the soul was human, a plus, Hollow or even the damned.
Who knows? It might have been a combination of all factors, along with the birthing of an offspring. Ah! Yes, that could have been the thing which tipped the scale to his disadvantage. Had he been a better man, he would have kept the freak of nature. Yet, back then, he had behaved like a spoiled brat… a miserable scumbag.
Thinking back, he concluded he may have deserved his fate. After all, for one who had been granted magnificent powers by just existing, he had done nothing worthwhile. Instead, he stepped on everything and everyone, making life miserable for all those unfortunate to be near his scope of influence.
Even so, to know that his brothers and sisters were the one to betray and belittle him, was still a sore subject. He would have much preferred had the omnipotent Mother been the one to punish him for his many, many crimes. What's worse… those insolent bugs he called siblings, used the souls of the dead to capture him.
At the beginning, there was no such thing as Shinigami… they were created by one of his relatives. Once created they were given tasks and powers enough to fight against other creatures of equal or greater strength. An easy way to control the flow of souls in the afterlife.
How foolish he had been. He should have noticed that certain people were working behind his back… Some of his brothers were teaching the Shinigami magic offensive and defensive spells, which later developed into Kido. Choosing the strongest among the Shinigami, his siblings gave the 'selected ones' a special sealing incantation. Performed correctly, the procedure had the power to enslave even a God. In turn, such a feat required the entire life-force of the casters… meaning that those who participated in closing the lid to his previous life, perished… leaving no traces behind.
Yeah, you heard that right! The extreme skill brought the end to the lives of the Shinigami who performed the accursed ritual. That had been his only recompense for several decades… until he realized that the process had a downside. With the death of the Shinigami who performed the hex, all knowledge and data were lost with them, along with the chance of creating a counter spell. Entrapping him for all eternity.
Once blocked within that sphere, he was unable to escape, to move, to enjoy his existence. On top of that, he was given a job! The task was delicate and required a lot of concentration. He was to balance the proceeding of souls from one dimension to the other. While doing so, he was forced to feel and sense everything those souls had gone through.
Emotions… he did not use to have such a comical thing as sentiments. Yet, every soul which passed through his eyes… in other words… each and every single one, was packed full of feelings and all of that was filtered through his body, soul and mind. He indiscriminately had access to all their emotions, knowledge, happiness, pains and so forth.
Never had he grasped the meaning of having a heart nor did he considered how beautiful a sensation it was to be free. He had stupidly abused the gifted powers which had been strong enough to change fate and put a stop or even break the wheel of fortune. It was all pointless now. He had been defiled, cut to pieces and abandoned to do a single tedious task.
Freedom… He yearns for a second chance, an opportunity to be liberated from the invisible chains keeping him in the same spot. Especially after witnessing the many lives which come and go as they please. Well… not entirely as they please, but the vast majority had exactly that… a second opportunity to live again. Reincarnation…
Once he started to understand things properly and the way the World worked, he had searched for the essence of his son. The Demigod had grown to be a surprising man. It could hear, feel, see, talk… At first, he thought his memories played tricks on him as the mongrel wasn't able to do any of that before. Surprisingly it developed and grew entirely on its own and moved on in life as any other soul would. In fact, it became an Emperor…
How often had he mentally prayed to the young one to set him free? Too many times to keep count, that's for sure. And even while imploring, he knew it would not heed his pleas. Not for being selfish like his father. Not at all, but it was not strong enough to complete such a feat.
He could only be unsealed by something more… someone special who could surpass even his own flesh and blood. Call it chance or even providence, but one day he was under the impression he had found it. But that cherry blossom perished at a young age, never to be seen again.
Several years later, during one of his eye-sweeps through the Dangai*, he took notice of an unusual and extremely strong-willed spark. Any hopes that it was 'The One' were destroyed when he realized it was incomplete. Heck, it was broken beyond repair into minuscule pieces.
It was a miracle of its own he had seen the thing at all. Yes. It had been that little… smaller than a speck of dust. Disregarding it for a residue of some sorts, he looked ahead and, for a time, forgot all about it.
Months later, while spiritually roaming about the Dangai, around the same area, there, he gazed at it again. The little fleck had persisted so long, defying the Koryu* and Kototsu* time and time again. How it survived, was a guess to which he had no answers.
Just as he was about to break his mind in a futile attempt to figure out the mystery, the solution presented itself. Another miniature part showed-up and joined with the one he had encountered before. It then hit him… the spark was no leftover Reishi nor Reiatsu, it was a soul. Whomever it had belonged to, must had gone through a horrible ordeal to be segmented in such small fractions. Even so heavily damaged, it persevered.
Intrigued, he frequently watched the spark with renewed vigor. Slowly, one piece at the time, it started to become bigger to the point it couldn't hide itself from the Kototsu anymore. Day by day he saw its desire to live. Week by week it fought against the Koryu and Kototsu to just let it be so it could recuperate.
Acting on impulse, he reached out and grabbed the steadily growing light. He decided it would be safe and sound with him in his realm. He wanted to keep it away from the dangers of the World, the Shinigami and others. It was going to become his beacon of light in his otherwise dark and gloom captivity space.
In the following decades, the pesky little thing constantly stupefied him. Without pause, it emitted a pleasant and inviting aura which it used to call the missing segments. It wouldn't be such an incredible feat, had it not been locked up in an entirely different dimension like his palace. And surely enough, even with the distance and improbability of gathering the lost puzzle parts, it never ceased its attempts.
By the end of a sole century it was nearly fully restored, having found all fragments but five. A single century! It should have been impossible. But proof was right in front of his face, mocking his contradictions. Nonetheless, the spark was relentless and pushed on.
After a few more centuries, it was still missing the same five pieces. Without those, it was unable to be restored to its former glory nor would it be granted passage to the Rebirth Cycle.
The Godling admired the fiery spirit and held on to the spark with all his remaining might. Its futile attempts to complete itself and be granted passage through the rebirth process forevermore hindered by its incomplete status, for only whole souls were given the chance at rebirth.
Now, almost eight hundred years later, it had stayed the same… at his side, persistently trying in vain to assemble the remaining parts… never ceasing its calls or warmth. So much life, such determination and no possibilities to achieve the desired goal.
It came to the point where he was weeping alongside it. He had felt its heart, though incomplete… He received the full flare of its emotions… adoration, longing, resolve to fulfill a promise… love.
Nothing changed, but the ferocious battle the spark fought every single minute, hour, day to keep on existing continued. It was really persistent that's for sure. It refused to submit. Each moment it self-sustained, was a new accomplishment. And it had been locked under his observant eyes for almost 80 decades.
…What if… what if the spark was the answer to his own wishes and desires?
Surely a soul this stubborn who managed to survive with naught but the environment Reishi was more than worthy… It could grow strong, sturdy enough to possibly liberate him someday?
For the first time in eons, he felt hope… he had not lost the concept of what 'hope' was, for humans were surprisingly very inclined to that peculiar emotion. Now he too understood why it made such an impression in their short-lived existence.
Aw… He was about to break one of the strictest rules in the balancing of souls… But, hey, he had been forced to be the Soul King all this time. Therefore, he could allow to cut himself some slack.
It had never happened before, though. To let a shattered soul slip into the reincarnation cycle… it was beyond his comprehension. He dared not think what the consequences might be.
On the other hand, if he kept the information to himself, no one would ever know. It's not like anyone else checks on his forced work. And maybe… just maybe it will never be discovered… especially if the spark continued its search and reunited with its last five fragments. Besides… he was already trapped and stripped of his powers… surely there couldn't be a worst punishment than that? The worst-case scenario was for him to be eliminated… that would be a blessing compared to his current position.
Wanting to expedite the process, before he had a change of heart, he rummaged through the many living souls in all three spheres. He cared not if he would allow it to return as a Hollow, human or Shinigami… In his haste, he found two very bizarre souls in the Human world.
Ho! They were special… yes… he instantly liked them… they would be the perfect parents for his spark.
With a last glance at the flame that had kept him company for so long, he set his mind straight and let it go, pushing it into the Cycle of Rebirth.
Soon it would be reborn and it could start accumulating the missing pieces… and who knows… perhaps it will live long enough to repay its debt by setting him free.
He would retain a vigilant eye on its progress… what were a few more decades filled with optimism compared to the millennia he had spent in his solitary anguish with no opportunities to escape? He liked his new chances.
'Go little spark, live again…In time, you will grant me my well-deserved and long-awaited retirement… One way or the other, you will be the one to set me free.'
No sound… no impression… no consciousness of the ambient nor one's own reality…
Nothingness… it was the oblivion preceding the burst of sensations and awareness experienced moments before being brought forth into the vast world.
This is how everyone is created… Hollows, Humans, Plus, Shinigami and even Zanpakuto.
The first step is the same, regardless of what kind of being you are. You star by becoming alert of your own existence. Then, slowly we start to comprehend what goes around. Curiosity is piqued and eyes open in an intuitive desire to satisfy the need for knowledge.
Most will see a person… another creature close by, sometimes even two. If lucky enough, one would hold them in a comfortable position, while another stood at a hand's length. That was how a newborn should be welcomed into the world.
Unfortunately, that was not always the case.
Every individual acted differently. Some are unable of coming to terms with the new reality of parenthood, others are scared or downright repulsed and let us not forget those who are simply not interested in their new roles. With the wide arrange of beings, each different in its own way, with various experiences, wishes or possibilities, it is hard to determine who is a suitable candidate to be a true parent.
Though, there are other situations. Hollows, for one, the moment they awake, are faced with a cruel concept: "Survival of the fittest". With right! Their parents believed that if the youngling was capable to see, it was able to flee. From day one, Hollows are meant to fight for their change at life.
Hard to believe, but there is yet to be a natural born Hollow who did not meet at least one of its guardians, let alone, one who had not been instructed on how to follow instincts in order to survive. Call it bad parenting if you wish, but in ding so, born Hollows are at least given a chance to know who they are and what to do in order to live. The rest, was solely upon the shoulders of the youngling.
Zanpakuto, on the other hand, are probably the least fortunate group. There is no such thing as parents, siblings or other relatives. No heartwarming welcome when they first open their eyes. Naught but a void, for at that point their world is yet to be formed and stabilized.
Heck, the blessed ones got to see something concrete through the eyes of their wielders. And even than it was when their owners were older. Such an accomplishment was a rare skill developed between a Zanpakuto and its holder. A Zanpakuto could use this innate skill but it requires tons and tons of Reiatsu. Therefore, most were left to float in a void for several decades.
Zanpakuto are also the fastest learner which is contributed to the fact they are made with inborn intel. They know their roles, their purpose and whom they belong to, all in one go. They are mostly aware of their powers, skills and talents. Unique Zanpakuto even have data stored from their previous life and or former user.
But data from old life is scarce since it is unlikely for a Zanpakuto to get the same wielder. This is due to the reason that souls who go through the re-birthing process rarely come to be exactly the same as in their previous existence.
The slightest change in the circumstances of a wielder's birth was enough to create a completely new and unique Zanpakuto. Not to mention, there is a crazy legend which clearly states that at least one of the holder's parents has to be a reincarnated relative from the old time. In short, either the father or mother had to be the same, with same or similar powers and properties.
Chances of that happening are one in a trillion and perhaps none existent. It is largely believed that this occurrence is utterly impossible for several reasons. The parent's soul had to be reborn in an adequate setting with the strengths it possessed in their first life. Only then could it pass the necessary materials to its offspring. From there, the reborn soul has to develop and nurture the parent's assets in a comparable fashion it had while alive. Far too many coincidences and quirks have to be aligned. That's why, it has been unheard of and belongs in the 'Myth department'.
Zanpakuto who once lived within one's soul, could at occasions, return into another but during the process, they become a new creation. This is because Zanpakuto, in essence, are formed from a fragment of a Shinigami's or Reiatsu fulled soul.
Being the beings with high Reiatsu levels, Shinigami are taught how to cultivate and control their energy. Once they reach a certain level, they are issued a 'nameless' Zanpakuto, also known as 'Asauchi'. The next step is to continuously use the sword until they imprint a part of themselves into it, thus, share a portion of their soul and create a connection with the core transferred within the blade.
It is sad that in their long lives they hardly ever acknowledge their Zanpakuto as an extension of their own being. A part of themselves that had been born with them, who had seen and felt the same sensations the Shinigami themselves did. Most Shinigami end up believing a Zanpakuto is but a tool they can use to increase their own strength. Which is both true and false.
Yes, the weapon itself, is nothing more than a conduit in which a Shinigami stores a portion of its soul which would in time raise to become their 'Zanpakuto'. By sharing their Reiatsu, they give that soul segment the nutrition it needs to sustain and develop itself. Due to the long separation from the original source, what with being trapped in a sword item. A Zanpakuto will grow to accept the Shinigami's lack of information and eventually, it will believe to be a separate being.
As mentioned, Zanpakuto are aware of their duties and skills, yet they do not share their knowledge with a Shinigami unless they were assured the wielder was strong enough. How do they know if a Shinigami is ready? Simple… their wielder starts to intuitively create their Inner World. Once assured that the holder was worthy, a Zanpakuto appears first in dreams and later takes a Shinigami to the created World. Inner Worlds represent the Shinigami's soul as much as their Zanpakuto, thus both entities feel at ease and peace while within the created space.
This is the time when a Zanpakuto wishes to become more connected to the person they were to be with and assist. In their need, the two will begin to converse and in due time they synchronize to the extent in which a Shinigami instinctively knows the Zanpakuto's name.
At times, Zanpakuto disclose their names to their wielders when they feel the time is right. In this case, a Shinigami can end up either hearing it or not. It all depends on the strength of the connection the two identities share.
With the course of time, a Shinigami will challenge its mostly doubted 'Sword' in a duel for the chance to achieve Bankai. Zanpakuto are always aware if their Shinigami is ready or not for the mental, physical and psychological stress it would have to endure. After all, attaining Bankai is nothing more than forcing a part of yourself into 'Submission'. Acknowledging your fortes and weaknesses while understanding there was more to the connection and your Zanpakuto than what you might have believed for years… Yeah… not pleasant at all.
Even so, Zanpakuto's feel a sensation of greatness whenever their holders reach that new level. And, though, conscious they would never be recognized as anything but a helpful hand in times of needs, they were glad and proud their 'Masters' were mighty and powerful. At least, they were assured their counterparts would not die easily, meaning they themselves could live that much longer.
So, here it was… a Zanpakuto about to blink for the first time in ages. Although, this one was a strange one. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a Hollow rather than a Zanpakuto spirit. If it could stand straight and tall in his currently empty space, it would be about 9'6'', with porcelain white skin and golden eyes in an inky black background.
As it was, the creature was on all fours, with clawed hands and feet and a face covered by a permanent 'smiling' mask with two red lines which could pass as permanent tattoos. You can easily tell the mask is an integrated part of the face as it had no beginning nor end. It was just there. Normally, it should have at least an indication that it could be removed, but so far it was impossible to say for certain.
As for the markings, both were on the left side of the face-mask. One starts an inch below the eye and stretches across the cheek, only to slightly curve upwards. The second one is just above the spot where the left eyebrow should be. It is a very short line, going towards the hairline, but not really reaching that high.
Hip-length ragged orange hair, with the occasional black and white highlight scattered around, seems vivacious and full of life. A much warmer and pleasant view, compared to the scary front face. The body is well built and toned as though ready for battle or tearing others apart.
Three sharp spikes on each shoulder assure no hugs or fooling around as do the talons at the end of the feet. Another fascinating feature, is the long and thick tail which starts from the tailbone and is about 4'5'' long.
Even so, fear not, the enormous one is not entirely nude. Although the upper body is completely exposed, displaying a fearsome and strong individual, low white Hakama pants strapped with a black belt, cover the lower regions. The Hakama themselves are incomplete as they reach to the knees and are rather tattered at the ends.
All in all, it looks like a figure straight out of a 'Beast Brochure', ready to shred any and all opponents into stripes and finger-food.
Shaking its head in a vain attempt to clear its sight from the void surrounding it, the Zanpakuto blinked several times before getting its wits about the situation at hand.
'Urgh! What happened? I feel like I was asleep for a while… There was something important to do… Oh, right! He had to be saved… no… we were already dying before that happened… But then…what? Ichigo… Yes… he used it… he was already one foot in the grave and we couldn't use regeneration… that bloody cursed monster and its poison…'
A gurgling sound came out of the creature, while it flickered its tail up and down as though hoping to destroy something or alleviate bits of its stress.
'ARGH! Pisses me off just thinking about it! May that fiend be cursed for all lifetimes! Ok, back on track… So… we fought… got poisoned and then went bum. Of course, that was when his Aibou made it and we took the device into us. Oh! Then we both blew up! Wonder what came afterwards? As far as I remember, we were told the contraption had the property of destroying a soul to smithereens… Which means, I shouldn't be here… wherever this is… Though, it does have a homey feeling.'
Abruptly the tail stopped its movements as the newly reborn Zanpakuto came to a conclusion.
'Could it be we got a second chance? Is that even possible?... Must be, I do feel almost the same… Heh… another miracle… Really now, he should have been named Kichi* not Ichigo.'
Any amusing thoughts were interrupted as the Zanpakuto felt a nauseating wave of fear. It had been a long time since he had sensed that particular emotion. With that sensation, all memories came flooding back… its first birth and its wielder, his change from a monster to a proper Zanpakuto, their shared life, achievements, fails… loved ones, enemies… It all came in one blow. Fortunately, 'Zangetsu', for that was the Zanpakuto's name, was already on all fours, else he might have fallen and could have been lost within the darkness.
Feeling a strong material under its claws, Zangetsu grabbed a hold of it long enough to get his bearing around and figure out what was going on. Never a moment of peace and quiet with Ichigo involved. Everything had to be complicated or overly dangerous. Clutching anything concrete, even though invisible, was but a reflexive reaction.
A call… something…no… not quite… someone was reaching out for him.
'Ichigo? It can't be! Even should it be true that we're back, he should be barely out of the womb. Something is not right. SHOOT! Back then there was no one to direct his Reiatsu… Looks like it's happening again. Wait for me, I'm coming!'
Closing his eyes, the Zanpakuto concentrated on its holder as much as possible, trying to do the one thing which he believed would save the young one's life… materialization. If Zangetsu could force materialization, he could start controlling the flow of Reiatsu. Luckily, materialization took a great chunk of Reiatsu, thus regulating anything leftover should be easy.
The problem would be to protect the little one if Ichigo was in danger. Materialization would take it all out of them both… if on top of that he had to fight… well, he was hoping it wouldn't happen. Praying for the best, he finally made the connection and forced himself out from the Inner and into the Living World.
Within the Shadow Realm of the Wandenreich one hooded figure was moving swiftly throughout the Castle. Its direction a hidden chamber near the Throne Room.
Soren was late… oh so very late it was absurd. Yet again, he had gone to the World of the Living only to return empty-handed.
It has been several years since the 'Experimental Disaster' as he so aptly dubbed it.
He had lost an experiment which he had been sure got murdered. Then, the same sample showed up in the World of the Living only to fight against a Taichou and losing his miraculous existence thanks to an arrow to the head, courtesy of Masaki whom he had yet to locate.
All in all, the whole deal had been a fiasco. He knew the Hollow had injured the Taichou and bitten Masaki. That in turn meant, he should have been able to see through both souks and in time control the Shinigami. Yet, he was aware that Masaki would not live for long. With the poison running through her veins she would either die or become an impure Quincy. He personally hopped for the latter, for he had been under the impression she was traveling with someone capable. Still, that had not been the full case either.
After the meeting with the Quincies and Shinigami, he had returned to Wandenreich to catch on some sleep. The following day, he tried to use the Hollow's influence within Masaki and the Shinigami.
The connection through Masaki was barely there, so he had been sure it had been dulled by whomever she was roaming around with. The link to the Shinigami, on the other side, should have been stronger. But the guy was a powerhouse, which meant the Taichou was indirectly pushing the Hollow's control down without being aware of its presence.
Shortly thereafter, he utterly lost all signals from both individuals. That should have been possible only if the two perished. He had refused to believe Masaki was gone again… It had been bad enough the first time he screwed-up, not to mention the unexpected incident a couple of decades ago. But without proof of life, he slowly berated himself for getting her indirectly killed… again…
Months later, he sensed a tiny connection back to the Shinigami Taichou… only the guy was now a human! Such a complex puzzle to which he had yet to find a solution. Bit by bit, he forced the Hollow's influence to the surface. He had to tread carefully, for there was no Reiatsu in the ex-Shinigami to direct the flow of the Hollow's energy and not enough power to 'hide' it. On top of that, he had to make sure it did not influence the male's behavior, his personality or appearances.
Through the ex-Taichou, he had seen Masaki… she was alive and in high spirits, as always… Although, he realized she had already fallen head-over-heels in love with the stupid Taichou. That had been a blow to his heart, mind and most of all… his plans.
A shame really. Not only that, but since he had to manipulate the Shinigami subtly, he was unable to tell where in the Hell they were living! Oh, yes! He knew they were together. He saw the nuptials! Even worse, he witnessed the wedding night and pregnancy.
All in all, everything was going downhill in that department. The worthless Quincy were unable to track her down, though Haschwalth had given several good pointers on where to search for her.
Oh well, at least it seemed that Huber was gradually winning Haschwalth to their side. In recent years, that was the sole recompense he had gained. PePe was working diligently and unsuccessfully trying to cast his 'Love' on Haschwalth, but the guy was not the Grandmaster just for fun. To catch Haschwalth off-guard… It would take a miracle… or someone on the same skill level as the Emperor himself.
Doubtless, only someone of the same level or higher would be able to surprise Haschwalth. The blonde was always on top of everything going on in the Shadow realm… Well, mostly everything… Soren had made sure the other was kept in the dark when it came to his schemes and plans… at least until he was certain the Grandmaster was willing to work for him and forget the Quincy King.
Of all the people within the cold palace, Haschwalth was the hardest to pry. Even so, he was confident that sooner or later even Haschwalth would fall victim to his own cravings, emotions and desires. At that point, Soren had to merely make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Everything and everyone has a price and Haschwalth is no exception.
Naturally, since he had been under the illusion that Masaki was gone, he had changed some of his plans accordingly. He was engrossed in Quincy research and methods in which he could get his hands on a prime subject. The catch is that not many Quincies are left and he couldn't do much with those within Wandenreich as they were either his 'allies' or soon to be soldiers.
Much to his chagrin, he had been unable to get any good samples for any of his latest experiments. As for the Shinigami, he managed to catch ten Academy students from various years which he had given to his Shinigami scientists, who were nowhere near his IQ level. All in all, those obnoxious idiots accomplished absolutely nothing.
Honestly, he alone had been able to figure out more on his own centuries ago, while these wannabe idiots played around like children. On the bright side, this meant they were slow and the rest of his Shinigami followers who yearned for power, had no choice but to patiently wait.
Thinking about the Shinigami made him remember that a certain Kuchiki was still among the living. The few 'assassination strategies' he had given to the murderous duo had somehow failed. Not due to his designs of course… but because of lucky circumstances and unexpected changes. He had yet to form a new plan of action, but so far, the two were in no rush. Apparently, Shinigami really did not have the same sense of time as the Quincies or Humans. A blessing for Soren.
Now, speaking of the Quincy. He had noticed small changes in the demeanor of a few of his accomplices. The new researcher team he had created was proof of that. Which reminded him, he had to make haste or he would not get the chance to see the fruit of their work bloom.
With renewed vigor, Soren took off in a burst of Shunpo, hoping to gain some precious seconds. The trial he was late for, was going to determine weather he should continue with the crazy idea he had or not. If it succeeded, it meant he could gain the upper hand with or without Masaki at his side. It all rode on the latest report… with any luck, it was about to be positive. Then…well, all bets were off…
Zangetsu had to blink several times. Compared to the void he had just came out from, this place was bright! He had no doubts that he made it into the material world. After all, he could sense his wielder's presence.
Finally adjusting to the colors and the capability to see again, he realized he was in a rather small, cozy chamber. The room itself felt bare… like it was missing something. Thankfully, there weren't many things around. He was still adjusting to his new enlarged size. 'Was I always this big or did the world shrunk in our absence? Nah! Must be just my imagination and old form. I did perish as a Vasto Lorde, so I'm probably back to the Adjucha level. Not my favorite, but I'll make sure to push Ichigo's training extra hard. I hate this form.'
Grumbling in a deep tone he took a closer look at his new surroundings. He could tell the room was incomplete, as though waiting for a certain someone to grow up. Cream colored walls, brown floor, a brown wooden door leading somewhere else, two cream-beige closets connected to each other with a weird handle… it was on the inside as thought you were to 'slide' the doors open or something. He was lucky to determine those things were a closet, they were almost part of the wall itself!
Scoffing at the ridiculous item he turned around noticing exactly what he was searching for… A sand colored baby-crib with white covers, sheets and pillows as well as a precious bundle.
The tiny baby appeared to be asleep. That alone spurred him into action. Moving towards the child, he felt the reiatsu surrounding it. It was dense, heavy and powerful. Yup, Ichigo was still a powerhouse, but at the moment that was not very welcomed. The reiatsu was slowly but surely squashing and killing its own source.
Without further ado Zangetsu approached the baby and extended a black claw towards its small frame. The moment his nail connected with the child's chest, he forced the reiatsu out of the baby and into his form. The rush of power was thrilling… Materialization took tons of power and by the looks of things, the little one had even more…
That was weird. Zangetsu swore Ichigo had even more Reiatsu than before. He did remember well… His first materialization back then… It had been painful and he barely kept at it for over a minute. Now though, he felt as though he could be visible for an hour without breaking a sweat. No wonder Ichigo called for help… this much Reiatsu should crush any being to dust, especially one so young.
Focusing on pulling as much energy from the young one as he dared, he thought of their past. He hoped Ichigo would have a better life this time around. Though, he was not convinced. The little one was left all alone just like then… Neither one of the parents anywhere nearby to monitor and exhaust the baby of its Reiatsu reserves… Had he come even a minute later, Ichigo would not have made it.
That realization made him pause. Just how much energy did Ichigo have this time around? He was re-created, got his memories back and even materialized all in the span of a few minutes. Could it be Ichigo was on the same level as back then?
'No. That is not likely. For if that was the case, I too would be on the same level… It's just probably an extra boost he has from his new family. If both parents are mighty, by default, he too will be that much stronger. Sheesh. Whoever his parents are must be either blind or senseless… How could they have left him all alone with no outlet? That was the least they could have done for him!'
Any and all thoughts running rampant in Zangetsu's head were stopped when big deep-blue eyes opened to stare at him.
"Damn! Why did you have to awaken now? Couldn't you just wait until I returned to our Inner World? Now you're going to get frightened and cry out. Not that I could blame you for that. Any sane creature would get scarred shitless, especially one as small as you."
Zangetsu's words were lost to the child's ears, all it came out from the Zanpakuto were gabbles and rumbling sounds. Having recessed back to his Adjucha shape, Zangetsu was unable to talk properly. It was something he would gain once he resumed his Vasto Lorde form. Normally, other Hollows were able to communicate when they reached Adjucha level. Though, with Ichigo and himself, there was always something different from the norm.
The child cutely moved its head to the right with a slight pout and inquisitive look. Zangetsu would have slapped himself if he wasn't concentrating intently on Ichigo's Reiatsu. How could he forget his talkative skills were non-existent? Not only that, Ichigo was a newborn baby, there was no way he could understand.
Huffing out a breath, he braced himself for the inevitable scream of terror. Only… it never happened. The innocent child was still looking at him as if searching for an answer to an unspoken question. Soon after, the child giggled. The giggling turned into a warm laughter only a baby was capable of.
The whole scene left one Zanpakuto very baffled. His eyes widened in surprise. His mask was on the verge of opening up in shock. Just what the heck? The little one should be sacred beyond words… instead it was smiling at the monstrosity that invaded his room and was currently holding a sharp appendage to his chest.
Tiny hands were shaking in mirth and trying to reach for the one nail touching his body. The baby had absolutely no fear, no panic and was trying to convey its thanks to the kind spirit who removed the bad sensation away. Incapable of speech, the child instinctively turned to amusement and happiness, hoping to at least share its appreciation in that way.
A full minute later, Zangetsu was still motionless. Being a part of Ichigo's soul he understood what the kid was doing. But it was still amazing that Ichigo was not scared of him. Closing his eyes, he smiled. How could he have even thought that his Ichigo would be afraid of him? They were irrevocably linked together and no matter what happened Ichigo will always be able to count on Zangetsu and vice versa. It's just who they were. Two beings within one soul.
Feeling reassured, Zangetsu did something he could not recall doing in the past. He came even closer to the crib and took the baby in its arms. Embracing Ichigo close to his chest, he let out a long purr of happiness and satisfaction to which the child responded by cheerfully babbling away.
On a deep level, they were already accepting each other and Zangetsu made a silent promise to keep things this way. He would always be by the other's side to guide and protect him from everything and anyone who would hurt the youngster.
A pang of guilt made way through his heart. Just remembering their past was hard enough. But seeing Ichigo again made him all but forget about it. This time he would make sure Ichigo was ready. There will be none of the previous hesitations or insecurities.
When he first opened his eyes in his past life, Zangetsu had met with a scary individual who was not a Zanpakuto, but still a fragment of their wielders power. It had taken him years to comprehend what it meant or how to work together with the other spirit. Looking back at the child he was holding tightly in his hands, he could tell several things were off.
First and foremost, that part of his powers was deeply asleep, nowhere near being close at hand. Which meant, Ichigo would have only him for quite some time. He'd have to work even more that what he originally thought. But at least, he was going to have this opportunity to be at his side from the very beginning and not towards the end.
Another good part was that he felt completely himself, not like the monstrosity he had been at the beginning. Yes, in their first lifetime, he had been a foul creature. He had assisted Ichigo only to keep him alive so he could live as well. Ossan had done the rest. Hell, he even went as far as to keep Zangetsu in a cage for most his life.
Once Ichigo met his mate on their second encounter, something happened and he was changed for the better. He could not remember exactly what the pale man had done… but it seems like it won't be necessary.
Still, he was mesmerized Ichigo retained even a sliver of his Quincy powers. After all, he had done that to himself to keep the Emperor around. If he saw the other guy, he'd give him a piece of his mind.
So deep in thoughts he was, he never noticed how Ichigo stopped laughing or when the child started to feel strange again. The echo of an empty belly brought Zangetsu back to the present. Looking down at his charge, he was confused.
'Did Ichigo make that sound? Ah… of course… the little one must be hungry… with right! After all the Reiatsu I just absorbed from him, no wonder he is ravenous. Shooting Stars! Where in the hell are his parents now?!'
Closing his eyes once again, Zangetsu concentrated on his surroundings. Judging by the myriad of souls he sensed in the vicinity, they must be in a village or city of some sorts. There were definitely a lot more people than what he could remember. Concentrating even more, he tried to focus on the closest living beings in his premises.
He soon found three Reiatsu. One was very weak and near death, while the remaining two felt frantic and were working diligently on keeping the dying one alive. Well, this was easy to understand. With how powerful Ichigo was, it was unsurprising. The mother must have used all her strength just to deliver the baby and was now being assisted by the father and one more person. Since he could not sense anyone else in the vicinity, Zangetsu figured out he would be the one in search of food.
"Oh well, no choice. Let's get this party started. Sorry Ichi, why don't you wait for me here? I'll be back with something good."
The deep grunts which came out of Zangetsu caught the little one's attention. Ichigo was on the verge of tears but calmed down thanks to the vibrations caused by Zangetsu's attempts at talking. Somehow, the baby felt content as though the huge person holding him was a good friend. The child did protest when the big white creature lowered him down on the baby-bed, yet more grunts and noises kept him from screaming. Watching intently, he saw his 'friend' crouch on his hands and feet and leave his sights. Saddened he wanted to wail in despair, but something told him not to. A part of him knew that the other had simply gone to help him out. Although, his child's mind was not capable to comprehend just what it needed.
Zangetsu, on the other side of the door, was having a hard time orienting in the new space. His knowledge of the former living arrangement was minimal and this one looked even more puzzling than the previous one. Using his senses and nose, he tried to pin point at least the eating zone where he hoped he would find nutrition for Ichigo.
It was much harder than you could imagine. The pungent smell of fresh blood was overriding all others and it took him a while to get used to it enough to ignore it. There were so many new and unique odors that made his task even more difficult.
Choosing to go with the flow and to avoid being seen by anyone, he went down the stairs and was baffled at the new room he stumbled upon. Many things he was familiar with from his old life, but many more were new and a mystery to the poor Zanpakuto.
Concentrating on the main table, he hoped a solution would present itself. The table was full of bags of a new material with dozens of trinkets. Rummaging through them, he saw pictures of babies on multiple things he presumed were bottles. The material was still weird, but hopefully they would do.
The next challenge presented itself right away. What to put inside the bottles? Moving to another bag, he saw a colored box with words and a baby picture. It was saying something about powder and a formula? Zangetsu really hoped this was the correct item.
Opening the thing was easy but seeing all the powder inside made him hiss in aggravation. How was he supposed to feed Ichigo with powder? Before he annihilated the insulting box, he noticed some more words written on the back of it. Apparently, the instructions on how to make it edible. Mixing water and powder together following the detailed information he finally managed to make one bottle. There was something saying about heating the damned thing but he simply ignored it. Its not like he knew how to warm the thing up without making it explode.
Going back to the nursery, he found Ichigo laying down with a cute pout. The child's face displayed discomfort and upset. Approaching the little one, he gently hovered above it and tried to place the bottle in its mouth. Not even two mouthfuls later, Ichigo spat everything out. Who knew the little imp was so difficult? Thinking back to the instructions and remembering he was supposed to make it warm, Zangetsu tried to do exactly that. He continued to hold the bottle in his hand while infusing it slowly with Reiatsu to 'warm it up'. Satisfied with his attempts, he tried to feed Ichigo once more. This time the young one did not spit and fervently drank the full bottle leaving not a single drop behind.
Feeling full and sated the child easily fell into a peaceful slumber. Happy with his achievement Zangetsu decided to stay for a little bit or for as long as he could sustain his form in the Living World. The calm and steady breathing of the newborn lulled the Zanpakuto into sleep, subconsciously Zangetsu returned to their Inner World, for now content with the situation at hand.
It would be several hours later that he would wake up thanks to yet another call from his wielder. Thankfully, he had continued to sap Reiatsu from Ichigo even in his sleep, therefore he knew it was not an emergency call. Judging from the quiet call, Ichigo was hungry once more.
After materializing, he wondered how come Ichigo's parents did not come to check on the young's life? Surely, they must have thought about him at least once? Ignoring a sense of déjà-vu, he went back down to the feeding area and prepared one more bottle. While turning around he was met by a strange person who was staring at him with an expression of surprise, fear and curiosity all in one.
Tilting his head to the side, Zangetsu wondered just what was going on in the other's head? He could understand surprise and fear, after all, he looked like a Hollow. But for some reason, he couldn't figure out why he would sense curiosity.
Concluding that it was none of his business, he proceeded to warm the bottle of milk in his hand. Once satisfied the food was ready, he moved carefully around the still stupefied man and made his way up the stairs and into Ichigo's chamber.
His movements must have broken the guy's trance, for he swiftly moved to follow him. Before either could enter the baby's room, Zangetsu turned to face the strange man and growl in warning. If this guy so much as touched a hair on his wielder he would reduce him to mincemeat.
Zangetsu was a little peeved his rumble did not have the usual effect on this one, normally, people would run over the hills to get away from his roars. Huffing out a displeased breath, he opened the door and went straight for Ichigo. Ignoring the persistent bug behind him, he took Ichigo in his large hands. Once Ichigo was secured to his chest and on his left hand, he sat cross-legged on the floor and proceeded to feed the young life with his right hand.
'Wow. He sure is hungry. Just how long have we been asleep? And where in the hell are his parents? I get it that the mother was not feeling well and needed to recuperate. Still, someone should have at least made sure he had something to eat. Heck! They should have had someone close at hand to guide his Reiatsu out. Lucky bastards should be thankful I was around to take care of us.'
Zangetsu dedicated himself completely to Ichigo, fully disregarding the dazed male in the weird outfit. Now that he thought about it, the guy did look creepy with his green clothes, the weird green and white stripped hat, clogs and a cane he was holding in a threatening manner.
'Meh, as long as he doesn't get too close to either of us, I won't attack. All bets are off the moment he makes a move towards us.'
Soon the bottle was empty and the child was full yet again. Zangetsu barely refrained himself from cooing at the little one and its attempts at chatting. The sun was about to set, giving the room an ethereal orange glow. Zangetsu felt it was rather appropriate given the boy's tiny orange locks which flared even brighter for a few moments. Even in its current state, Ichigo's Reiatsu and spirit shined through the impeding darkness. The mere sight had Zangetsu recalling even more memories, some better than others, mind you. Yet, the many spectacular ones came forth.
Wave after wave of memories, all fleeting in Zangetsu's head left one Zanpakuto perplexed. As much as he could tell, Ichigo and by default he himself, were destroyed beyond the point of fixing. Even so, here they were, reunited under a sun-set in a very similar fashion they first met.
He was concerned. In their previous life, he had been awful to Ichigo until he was changed. This time though, there was no Ossan to keep him in line. Simultaneously, he was much better than before. Therefore, he should be fine… right? What upset him the most was the fact that Ichigo's first hours in the Living World were essentially the same as before, yet his were different. No matter how much he tried to mull the information in his mind, he could not find a concrete answer to his dilemmas.
Perhaps this was better for the both of them. They could grow together much more powerful. And who knows, maybe this time they could spend more time together learning from one another. Wouldn't that be awesome.
He wondered simultaneously if his brother was still up and around. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the familiar Reiatsu, only to come empty handed. That was worrisome. What could have happened to his little brother? Was he alive but somewhere out of reach? Or did he and his wielder die? With his mind in turmoil, he involuntarily affected Ichigo's mood. The sensitive child could tell something was bothering the nice giant. Unable to do much to alleviate the sorrow he could not understand; the little child raised his hands towards the tremendous face caressing it gently.
The soft strokes made Zangetsu purr in delight. There was no better feeling than the knowledge that your wielder was not afraid of your monstrous form. So far, Ichigo had displayed many emotions, but fear towards him was not among them. Such a refreshing sensation.
By now, the sun was gone and replaced by the shadow of night. With a big yawn, the child made itself more comfortable on those strong hands, cuddling and falling asleep. Zangetsu patted the head carefully until he could feel the young one's deep breaths on his skin. Assured Ichigo was in a deep slumber, he proceeded to place him back on the crib.
Safely tucked under the blankets, Zangetsu made sure to send a menacing glare towards the unmoving individual. He might have all but forgotten about him, but Zangetsu could not leave Ichigo alone if there was a threat. Since the guy did not make any moves against either one of them, he concluded he was not an enemy. The good old scowl would make sure the other did not get any ideas. Should he feel any disturbances not even the Gods would be able to save the weirdo from his rage.
With a last silent snarl at the unknown man, Zangetsu retreated into Ichigo's minds-cape and their shared Inner World. He was sure there would be no issues. There was yet to be a fool crazy enough to disregard his warnings. Fading from the Living World, he missed the amazed expression on the male he left behind in Ichigo' room. He'd deal with any nuisances when it was needed. For now, he too required a well-deserved rest.
If one was to ask Urahara Kisuke how he was faring, they would receive the stare of the century. He was exhausted and fairly worn out. To receive a call in the middle of the night asking for his assistance in child-birthing was not on the list of things he liked. Never-mind that it was the very first time anyone asked his assistance for such a delicate process. He preferred to but-himself-in without anyone's call and do things his way, thank you very much.
Nonetheless, he was glad he had been selected. The ex-Shinigami Taichou Shiba Isshin, turned Kurosaki Isshin, was many thing, but a coward was not among that list. A frantic call from such a man surely meant serious business. Since he had also a promise to keep towards an alarmingly powerful Quincy Emperor it was not like he could outright refuse either way.
The Jureichi was finally settling down in the city and caused for swarms of Hollows to appear on a daily basis. He was having his hands full on making sure to keep the city and its citizens safe without getting too much attention from either the Shinigami or other unwanted prying eyes. Namely one Aizen Sosuke.
In short, he was having the time of his life. Plenty of research materials, a happy Yoruichi in Soul Society along with not one but two spies and tons of data collected from mentioned moles. On the other side, there was only so much he could do on his own. Blessed be Tessai. Honestly, had it not been for the spectacles wearing male, he would have overworked himself to an early grave.
The beginning was hard. Knowing that your partners for a delicate operation were a true born hybrid and the infamous Quincy King was no laughing matter. In the past few years, they successfully infiltrated the Academy and became popular guys with good marks, but not over-the-top students since they were from Kusajishi* one of the worst Rukongai districts.
The Quincy King entered as Hino* Tomoya* while Shirosaki-san came to be Kurohoshi* Akira*. He personally found the names to be hilariously fitting.
Ever since then, the two managed to also gather an interesting amount of intel on Aizen, information he wouldn't have been able to attain by any other means than to have someone constantly in Soul Society. Their greatest achievement was to get Ichimaru Gin to their side along with preventing several well-prepared assassinations against Kuchiki Byakuya.
Best of all, saving Byakuya kept Yoruichi-san happy and a happy Yoruichi meant less of a headache for him in the long run. It also meant she would stay in Seireitei for a while and his food and sake supplies could stay intact. All in all, the deal had been a true bargain, since all he had to do was to keep one girl safe.
Yes, his agreement had been a sweet one. Especially since Masaki was such a well-behaved lady. As time passed, she requested less and less visits from her unofficial guardians. From a teenager she bloomed into a beautiful woman, started to date the former Shiba-Taichou and here he was rushing to the newly established Kurosaki residence to assist her in giving birth to their first child.
Time sure flies. He felt as though it had been only yesterday that he was teaching a forcefully retired Shinigami human ways and how to open a clinic. Paperwork aside, Isshin had been an eager student and managed to get on his own feet in no time.
Yet another reason why he was so out of his mind at having been called at such ungodly hours to assist in something that should be both natural and an everyday occurrence in the life of a 'doctor'.
Before he left, he assigned Tessai with the duty of keeping the town 'Hollow-free'. Reaching the Kurosaki's, he couldn't suppress a shudder that went down his spine. Now he understood why they needed him. There was a huge output of Reiatsu which was in danger of breaking the many shields he had placed not too long ago.
Thinking back to when he placed the barriers, he did recall Masaki's pale face and her request for certain medicine which would help her produce more Reiatsu. Being a Quincy, the mere suggestion had been suspicious as she could absorb the Reishi in the air and make it her own. As per her words, she was constantly doing that, but it was simply not enough. The unborn baby was sapping much more than what she could produce.
Given her reactions to the first few Reishi batches he had made, he was ready to suggest abortion. Nevertheless, she declined even before he could voice such an idea. She was so happy and proud her baby was growing strong within her, she outright refused to give up on the child stating she just needed something to help her on the way.
Well, it sure looks like those pills did a wonderful job in the end. Now though, it was too much Reiatsu accumulated in one spot and they would have to separate the two beings before something disastrous happened.
As he was about to knock on the door, a disheveled Isshin came out grabbing him by the arm and guiding him to the clinic side of the house. Masaki was still holding strong, but her face displayed pain and a healthy dose of fear.
By his estimates the safest way to get the child was via a c-section. The operation was a great success and the newborn came out fairly unharmed. Still, the sudden removal of the chibi-powerhouse left internal damage within Masaki and her own energy was leaking out in dangerous amounts.
The next several hours were spent in trying to save Masaki's life. He could not remember a time he had used so much energy as for this particular case. With a sideways glance he did realize Isshin got the child somewhere else and resumed his care over Masaki. Together, using modern human medicine and Shinigami healing methods, they managed to save Masaki from certain death.
All in all, they spent roughly 15 hours from the moment he had been called forth. Isshin took a now sleeping Masaki to their chambers leaving Urahara to his own devices, not before telling him to make himself comfortable and at home. The exhausted sap even went as far as to tell him there was an empty guest room somewhere on the upper level.
Kisuke stayed behind to clean the leftover mess. He believed both Isshin and Masaki would greatly benefit from such a small action. At least the two will not be reminded of the whole situation first thing in the morning when they wake-up the next day.
Done with his self-appointed task, he made way towards the kitchenette with all the intentions to make something edible. Imagine his surprise to be met face-to-face with a Hollow. At first, he was ready to strike the creature down, but he was cut short when the beast growled lowly in his throat and he noticed the item it was holding in its hands. A baby bottle filled with a milky substance.
It shouldn't be possible right? Hollows were monsters with no feelings or emotions… not to mention they ate human souls. So, why was one in here, with no blood-lust and holding what should be given to a toddler? Let's just say, his curiosity won over his integrated need to kill the monster before it could move.
It took him a while to realize the Hollow was openly ignoring his existence. IT did something to the bottle and then moved up the stairs. Still baffled, Kisuke went after it, wanting to see what the demon-like creature was going to do with the bottle.
When they approached the room in which he was sure the baby was residing he nearly attacked. He was stopped by the warning rumble the Hollow sent his way. There was something nagging him to just pull Benihime out from her confines and slice the creature before it could do any damage. But for whichever crazy reason, he simply couldn't do it. There was intelligence reflected in those unnatural eyes. A desire to do something.
Following behind he saw clear as day as the creature went to the crib, took the baby from its confines and fed it. The scene was enough to blow his mind good-bye and out the metaphorical window. What's worse, the child did not seem scared nor preoccupied. Well, fine it was giving him food, but it was done by the hands of something that should instill primal fear…
He was reduced to staring… yes, he was just there watching the scene unfold. Completely forgotten by both the monstrosity and the little one. After being fed, he saw the Hollow lower the bottle to the ground and watch the child intently as thought it wanted to smile at the noises the baby produced.
He could sense serenity for a long good while emanating from the beast. As the sun set, the picture of the Hollow holding the baby in its mighty arms remained forever burned in his memories. The phenomenon surreal, the glow of the fading light making the whole room that much brighter and warmer.
Soon the emotions of the Hollow changed. As though the happiness was disappearing along with the Sun's rays. Standing at the ready, he itched to pull out Benihime and finish the Hollow before it could hurt the newborn. Only, such a move never occurred. The young one must have been a lunatic for he reached the Hollow's face with his tiny hands.
It was a complete turn-over and the Hollow even purred in satisfaction. To say he might have gone a few shades of gray in only the past few minutes of witnessing these exchanges would be an understatement. Especially when the child fell asleep and the monster turned to give him a pointed stare accompanied by a threatening silent roar. It was as thought the Hollow did not want for the baby to be awakened. There was also a tiny fraction of hesitation at leaving the newborn behind.
Kisuke would be the first to admit he felt relief at seeing the Hollow disappear after tucking the baby in the crib. He stood on his feet, but barely. The whole situation had been unnerving to say the least.
Slowly, as if fearing the Hollow might return, he approached the crib. The little one had such a carefree and serene face, just as it should be expected of a sleeping baby. One would never even think that a monster had just held the precious bundle, fed it and made it fall asleep.
Unbelievable. Had anything happened to the child, he was sure there would have been a whole line of people demanding for his head as a souvenir. He should definitely start making a merchandise like that…. He might make more than a few pennies…
Back to the baby, now that the looming threat of a moody Hollow was over, he dared to finally gauge the child's Reiatsu.
He had expected for the baby to be strong, only not this mighty. No wonder Masaki had trouble carrying and birthing the little one. There was yet another thing that was simply knocking at the back of his head… but what?
Then it struck him… the child's Reiatsu and the Reiatsu of the Hollow that just recently disappeared were nearly the same. Could it be…? Is it possible that he inherited Masaki's Hollow? How big are chances that the monster from just minutes ago is the little ones' Inner Hollow?
That was disturbing, if the Hollow could come and go as he pleased even during the time the baby was this defenseless, what would it do when the child grew steadily up? And most of all, why did it not consume the baby on the spot? It surely wasn't normal behavior. Then again, how many Inner Hollows fed their masters with no killing intentions?
Fearing for the newborns safety and future, Kisuke started working on a special seal that would prevent the monster from coming out to the surface so easily. Simultaneously, that meant he'd have to block the child's Reiatsu until he was able to control his energy properly.
He worried that he might be doing the baby a disadvantage, but as things stood, he could not risk for Seireitei to locate the newborn, even less to kill it for having such a huge amount of Reiatsu. Knowing Central 46, they would ask for the child's execution without delay.
Several minutes later his spell was completed and with it the newborn's Reiatsu was kept at bay, buried deep within his soul. Kisuke was ready to collapse, which he promptly did on the floor of the baby's room. Before falling into unconsciousness caused by fatigue, he silently promised to release the seal once the child was ready and strong enough to overpower the demon living within his body. Hopefully he won't be beaten too hard for doing this without his parents' consent nor without consulting with the Quincy Sovereign.
Looking forward to any and all criticism.
Reminders: English is still not my mother language. If I made a mistake along the way, please let me know. Sorry for repeating the same parts all over again xD
Hear, hear! It's finally happening. We have a little Ichi! xD
*Kichi* – male Japanese name meaning 'good luck'. It was a really lucky chance I found this name. Therefore, naturally, it had to be in the story x3
*Dangai* – more commonly known as the Precipice World, is the dimension which lies between the World of the Living and Soul Society. The Dangai is an isolated space which is surrounded by numerous stacked-up layers of time flows. Thus, the time compactness within it, is extremely high when compared to other exterior dimensions. To be precise it is over 2,000 times denser, meaning that when one hour passes in the outside worlds, 2,000 hours go by inside the Dangai. In the past it was used as a penal colony. Together with the Koryu and the Kototsu the three adjoined components act as a means of defense against unwanted intruders.
*Koryu* – meaning 'Wrestling Flow' is the current that constantly flows through the Dangai. Its' purpose is to prevent enemies from going through it. The current stops souls from moving, trapping them in an inescapable grip. It encompasses the walls, capturing anyone who makes contact with them.
*Kototsu* – also known as the 'Wrestling Surge' or 'The Cleaner' is as its name suggests the to a street sweeper. It appears once every seven days to cleanse the area. While at it, it kills anyone and everything that makes contact with it. Its purpose; to make sure no one loiters and possibly takes advantage of the time difference. It is formed from the same material which makes up the Dangai with a few additions. First its shape is that of a bullet train with a golden eye at the upper-center of its body. Anything that gets caught up in its current is trapped and thrown out in an entirely different timeline or even location. When Aizen Sosuke destroyed the Kototsu, he and Ichimaru Gin ended up slightly off-route and farther from Karakura Town. Gin commented it happened as the axis slipped due to Aizen's interference.
*Hino* – Japanese last name meaning 'sun field'. It was the name of a noble family descended from the Fujiwara. This surname is mainly found in eastern Japan.
*Tomoya* – male Japanese name meaning 'wise one'
*Kurohoshi* – Japanese surname combined from two parts: 'kuro' meaning black and 'hoshi' meaning star.
*Akira* – Japanese male name meaning bright or clear. You can guess which one I used for Shirosaki xD
Really, I'm so evil, giving him a name, which means 'bright black star'.
*Kusajishi* – It is the 79th district in the North Rukongai and the place where Kenpachi Zaraki first 'met' his Fuku-taichou Yachiru. He named the girl with Unohana's nick-name Yachiru and Kusajishi from the district he found her in.
Sheesh, took me a while to get this one out.
Hope you'll like it x3
Until next time. Wishing you all the best :D