10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven
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Ichigo silently rested Zangetsu on his back and hip. A frown marred his face as he held back a grimace. A huge chunk of his Reiatsu was used up, but he was still good to go. He couldn't help but recall what his Getsuga Jūjishō did to Aizen. He wasn't so delusional to think that it could kill Aizen, but he had been sure it could injure Aizen severely.
His assumption was based on the future he knew where he could destroy a Sternritter's hand with Getsuga Jūjishō even though the said Sternritter had her Quincy: Vollständig active. He had forgotten to consider that Aizen might be stronger than the said Sternritter even without Hōgyoku.
'Not to mention, my Getsuga Jūjishō is still not perfect,' he thought bitterly. 'I need to awaken my Quincy power as soon as possible.'
Lifting his head, Ichigo noted that the sun was setting. The Shinigami from the Fourth Division ran around treating the injured, including the three Gatekeepers whom Aizen had controlled. He could feel the gaze of the high-ranking Shinigami in the surroundings on him. He ignored them and turned in the direction where he could sense his friends were coming.
"Kurosaki-kun! Eh? You are Kurosaki-kun, right!?"
A light smile crept up his face as Inoue Orihime ran up to him. His other friends joined a second later, equally baffled by his appearance.
"It has been only a couple of days, yet everyone has already forgotten me, eh?" he remarked sardonically.
"What happened to you, Kurosaki?" Uryū asked in bewilderment.
"Something happened during my awakening."
"Awakening?"
Ichigo smiled mysteriously, ignoring the inquiring look Uryū shot him. Orihime hugged him and he reciprocated, surprising Chad and Uryū. His eyebrow twitched, but he didn't comment. He knew how he had behaved before his awakening, so he didn't have the right to rebuke them. Doing that would only cement their perception of him.
"Thank you for not dying," Orihime said in a muffled voice.
"I don't easily die," Ichigo replied nonchalantly, ruffling Orihime's hair.
When they parted, Orihime looked up at him with a blushing face. She was quite unfamiliar with Ichigo's rather intimate response. When she was about to inquire him about his hair, Yoruichi approached them. She stopped herself and watched as Ichigo turned around to face Yoruichi with a smirk.
"Aizen's cut must have hurt enough to make you lose consciousness."
"That bastard disturbed my Reiatsu flow. The backlash knocked me out; not the wound," Yoruichi explained in distaste.
"Sure," Ichigo agreed instantly, ticking Yoruichi.
"You, cocky—"
"Oy, Yoruichi, Ichigo! Ganju and I will be returning now that you guys no longer need my help," Kūkaku called out, interrupting Yoruichi. "You look good, Ichigo. Do visit our residence sometimes." Ichigo noted that Kūkaku looked slightly dazed as she inspected him but didn't comment. "Ah, I will be waiting for my payment, Yoruichi. Don't forget!"
Bidding her farewell, Kūkaku pulled Ganju by his ear and left Sōkyoku Hill. Someone approached them right after Kūkaku's back disappeared. Ichigo and Yoruichi turned to their left and met the begrudging gaze of Suì-Fēng. Ichigo deduced that she must hate her for what he had done to her. He didn't want to deal with her, so he walked to Rukia, removing himself from the group.
Renji let Rukia down at her request, allowing her to walk to Ichigo. They stared at each other silently for a moment. Rukia found it hard to express herself. On the other hand, Ichigo found mirth in Rukia's changing expressions. When Rukia realized that Ichigo was enjoying her silence, her eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Say it, Chibi," Ichigo encouraged smugly.
Gritting her teeth, Rukia softly said, "Thank you." Sighing as she saw Ichigo's smirk, she bowed and sincerely thanked him. "Thank you for what you did for me. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to you. You risked your life to save me. I am sure if I were you, I wouldn't be able to withstand General Yamamoto's Reiatsu or face Captain Aizen. You did all of those valiantly, shrugging off death, all for my sake. I owe you a big one."
Ichigo's hand landed on Rukia's head, causing her to look up in surprise. "You saved me and my family from that Hollow that night. Consider this a payback."
"Ichigo…" Rukia stared at him adorably before scowling. "How long do you think you are going to keep your hand on my head? I am not a child, damn it!"
Ichigo chuckled while ruffling Rukia's hair, further enraging her. He stopped when Retsu approached them. Retracting his hand, he took a step back. He knew it was time for Byakuya to talk with Rukia about his past. He was quite surprised it still happened given the fact that he didn't lecture Byakuya on how he should have fought the law for Rukia.
"Kurosaki-san, Captain Kuchiki is requesting to talk to you," Retsu said gently.
'Wait, what? He should have talked to this Chibi here, not me!' Keeping his bewilderment to himself, Ichigo nodded lightly. "I will be there soon."
"Ah, and may I take your time for a few some time later? I inquired Captain Kuchiki about how you remained unscathed and he told me that you healed yourself. I am quite curious, you see," Retsu added, stopping Ichigo in his tracks.
"What if I refuse?"
"That will be fine. I am just curious."
As sincere as she sounded and as gentle as she looked, Ichigo refused to believe Retsu would let him decline. His spine chilled as he looked at her smile, making him wonder just how many people she had killed to make even such a gentle smile appear bloodthirsty.
"I will agree with one condition."
Retsu blinked her eyes and then looked at him curiously. "Tell me."
"Have a date with me later," Ichigo said with a smirk.
"Deal."
As Renji and Rukia choked on their saliva, Ichigo blinked his eyes. His smirk turned wry. He didn't expect to get that response from Retsu. He had hoped that his ridiculous request would put her off, so she would forget examining him altogether. He was quite worried that Retsu would discover his Hollow nature. He wasn't afraid of Soul Society, but he didn't want any trouble for the time being.
"I will see you later, Retsu."
The males in the surroundings mentally paid their respect to Ichigo for his boldness. Shunsui was tempted to whistle, but he held himself in fear of mysteriously losing his family jewel. Retsu blinked her eyes in surprise but didn't say anything. She watched Ichigo walk to Byakuya for a moment before helping her division tend to the injured Shinigami.
Arriving before the seated Byakuya, Ichigo unceremoniously dropped himself to the ground. Crossing his limbs, he waited for Byakuya to speak.
"Thank you for doing what I couldn't do and teaching me something precious," Byakuya said with a sincere bow. "I broke the law once for Rukia and swore to never do that again. It was painful to hear the verdict, but I thought it was only right to let it happen. I shouldn't break the law for I had done it once. You made me realize I was wrong." Byakuya's eyes gleamed briefly. "To fight for your loved ones is right. Breaking the law is also permissible if you have enough power."
Registering Byakuya's words, Ichigo blinked his eyes in silent bewilderment. Something was wrong with Byakuya. He wanted to point it out but held himself. The change within himself and what he did must have caused a chain reaction. He should have expected it to happen. Besides, he found the thought of Byakuya defying laws amusing.
"Welcome to the Dark Side, Byakuya."
"What?"
"Ignore what I just said."
Shaking his head faintly and doing what Ichigo requested, Byakuya bowed once again. "Thank you for what you did. Rukia wouldn't have been here without you and Aizen would have gotten away with what he wanted."
"Speaking of what Aizen wanted, Kuchiki Rukia will spend time under the new Central 46's supervision for what she contains," Yamamoto chimed in as he approached them. "I can keep her under the jurisdiction of Gotei 13, but she may have to spend her time in the Twelfth Division."
"Thank you for the heads up, gramps, but Rukia will be held by no one. I am sure it will take Central 46 some time to reform, so Rukia will be free during that time. I suggest calling Urahara Kisuke to extract Hōgyoku out of Rukia. He has kept it safe for more than a century, so I am sure you can entrust it to him."
"Given what that thing can do, it is impossible that Central 46 will forfeit it to someone who may or may not have a grudge against Seireitei for being wrongfully exiled."
"You don't have to report to them truthfully, gramps. Just say that Hōgyoku crumbles upon its extraction. They don't know how it works, so they will believe it." Ichigo smirked before hardening his gaze. "Seriously, though, after what happened, do you think it is right to obey everything those obnoxious bastards command? What if one of them thinks of using it for their own gain? They don't need power more than they already have."
Ichigo's words made Yamamoto's hold on his cane tightened. He had done countless questionable things Central 46 ordered. He more than once questioned himself if it was right but never disobeyed because of the political backlash. Ichigo said what he was thinking but could never say. It felt wrong, yet undeniable.
Yamamoto grunted and then turned to leave with his lieutenant. Byakuya watched Ichigo in silent astonishment before inwardly congratulating himself for joining the Dark Side, as Ichigo called it.
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Honorary Mention:
Venerable Immortal Adan Smith
Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji
Venerable Immortal Jack Wright
Venerable Immortal SilverWolf