Two beings standing sideways on a skyscraper surrounded by numerous other skyscrapers, houses and other city buildings with large gardens a top each skyscrapers.
The first being is a tall lean, bone bleached white skinned man with long waist length ashen white hair, clawed fingers and toes.
Wearing a menacing black skull mask covering the entire head with two forward pointed blade like horns with crimson streaks across either sides of the face and over the eyes and cheeks.
A form fitting white, ankle length tattered shirt with a dark crimson undershirt with dark crimson fur collar and wrist cuffs. A pair of white hakama pants with a dark crimson sash.
The second being is a tall pale skinned man with long blackish tattered hair with a brown highlights. Prominent cheekbones, broad chin and a small stuble beard and mustache.
The man wears a tattered dress shirt with upturned collar and cuffs, a black amorphous tattered cloak with burgundy highlights, black trousers and low heeled boots. The man also wears wrap around tinted sunglasses.
Both men have reddish eyes.
"Ooi, old man. Are we really just gonna stand and do nothing as this shit happens?" growl the slightly shorted white man with a duel toned voice.
The second man remains silent but his stoic features grow more serious.
Growling the first figure snaps, "Fine ya can do nothing, but I aint leavin the king to fend for himself."
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The scene changes to a rainy sky where a beautiful light brown haired young woman walks hand and hand with a small boy with a large happy grin on his face.
The boy's most noticeable feature is his bright orange spiky hair and brown eyes with a faint reddish tint.
"And then Tatsuki punched my down," the young boy pouts as speaks to the woman. The woman gives him a gentle smile, "My it sounds Tatsuki-chan was being quite mean, wasn't she Ichigo?"
Ichigo shakes his head, " Nuh-ah, it just means I'm still weak. But I'll get stronger to protect you, Yuzu and Karin! That's a promise mom," he declares fiercely.
The mother just chuckles gently, "I'm sure you will my little protector."
The two continue walk as the talk about the day, both unaware of what awaits them going forward.
After awhile the mother and son duo walk past a river. Unbeknownst to the son the mother stiffens ever so slightly, keeping an eye on something hidden in the raging river.
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"Times running out, we gotta make a choice now old man!" The white man sneers urgently towards the older man.
A grim expression adorns the older man's face.
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Ichigo notice an almost ethereal girl in a white cloak stand on the edge of the riverbank slowling tipping forwards.
With widening eyes and a panicked expression he lets go of his mother's hand and sprints forward.
"NO!! ICHIGO!!" she screams as she forms an ethereal blue bow starts forming in her hands.
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"Da hell with it!" The white man screams as streams of black and crimson flames envelopes the man and sends them towards the reflection showing Ichigo.
"So be it, he will walk the path of the supernatural and...." the old man begins. "Quit yer yappen and help ya geezer!" the white man shouts.
Two streams of energy blitz towards the reflection, one black and crimson the other a white and scarlet.
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The mother pulls back on her bow as she rushs towards her son. At the same time as Ichigo reaches out to the girl, a massive greenish furred hamster like monster jumps out from the river.
The monster has a large white skeletal tiki like mask with circular marking below the eyes and pinkish bird like legs.
As the beast reaches out to take a bite out of the boy a bluish arrow shoots past its head. "GET AWAY FROM MY SON! YOU MONSTE...." the mother shouts until she is engulfed a bluish light.
As the light fades away the woman is seen without the bow and with a shocked expression. The woman suddenly gets a determined expression and continues forward to save her son.
"Oh a Quincy? How rare and delicious. You will make a fine meal," the monster all but purrs out in delight. "I don't know what that light is, but I can tell. YOUR POWERLESS!" the beast bellows as it leaps forward towards the mother.
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The world suddenly stills and goes grayscale for the scared and confused Ichigo, "Huh, wha..." "AIN'T TO TIME TO BE CONFUSED KING," a warped duel tone voice shouts out.
Suddenly before Ichigo coming from the monster's shadow came the white man and from his mother's, the old man.
"Indeed, this will not last to long. If you want to save you mother you must act now Ichigo," the old man saids calmly.
Confused, he asks, "W-w-what do I do, who are you, what is that, wha..." "Listen we'll answer ya questions later. Now just let me help ya," the white man says impatiently, get an annoyed scowl from the older man.
Walking behind Ichigo he graps his right arm with both hands making a finger pistol. "Just let instinct guide ya King," the white man says with a mad grin. Sighing the old man places a hand on the mother's shoulder which is the illuminated by a faint pale scarlet glow.
The two men make eye contact and give each other a nod.
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The world is illuminated by a blast of crimson as a powerful piercing beam is released from Ichigo's white clawed finger.
The beast is missing more than half its body falls to the ground, slowly disintegrating, "Wha... a... ceeeerrroo... from a.... mea... sly.... hum.. an... impossible..." it murmurs in shock as it slowly disintegrates.
The mother now on her knees is shocked. Looking at her son with most of his right side being bone white and clawed fingers, a crimson eye with blackend sclera, all of which is slowly fading away. "Ichigo?" She says in bewilderment. Ichigo than passes out and falls flat on his back, "ICHIGO!" she shouts in fear as she reaches out towards him before passing out herself.
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"My my, quite the situation we found ourselves in, ne Kurosaki-san," a man in wooden sandals says. "Shall we help them, Boss?" a second taller man with glass and black braided hair asks.
The first man, wearing green traditional clothes and a black coat with a green and white bucket hat covering his dirty blond hair, "Naturally Tessai, but I'm quite curious on what happened here?" he says seriously.
"You stabilize Miss Kurosaki, I'll take a look at Ichigo," the man directs the now known Tessai.
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"Ahhhgg," Ichigo groans as a slowly rouses from unconsciousness. Slowly blinkink awake he sees a menacing black skull with two menacing crimson eyes.
Both stare at each other unblinking before, "AAAAAAHHHHH," Ichigo screams in fright, meanwhile, "KAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA," the white man cackles like a maniac.
The older man simply sighs tiredly at his white counter part's shenanigans.
"AAAAHHHH," "HAHAHAHAHA," the two continue screaming and cackling.
One twitch.
"AAAAHHHHH," "HAHAHAHAHA," the two continue.
Two twitches followed by a soft groan.
As the two continue the older man starts growling and develops a bad twitch in his left brow.
"AAAAHHHH," "HAHAHAHAHA," "BE QUIET!" the older man roars causing the white man and Ichigo to jump into each other's arm in fright.
A deep and audible sigh escapes the older man's lips. "Now that, that's out of the way, we can get to the heart of the matter. Understood." the older man whispers harshly. Both youth nod their heads rapidly before looking at each other and jumping away.
The older man sighs again, "Rei'Ō give me strength," he whispers.
"Ummm," Ichigo starts slowly, "Who are you, where's mom, what was that, where are..." "Hold ya horses King?" the white man interrupts, gain a scolding look from the older man.
"In reverse order of you questions. We ARE in you inner world, the core of YOUR soul. THAT was a Hollow, a human soul warped by dark emotions and from remaining in the human world for to long. Your mother is safe," the older man answers curtly.
"And who are you guys?" Ichigo asks confused and slightly fearful.
The two men look at each other. The white man steps forward, "Well to put simply King. WE are you. More specifically the manifestations of the powers of ya soul."
"Powers?" He asks more confused. "Yes Ichigo, your powers," the older man replied. Seeing their master confused the older man decided to elaborate.
"We represent your Quincy and Hollow-Shinigami power respectively," the older man starts. "Hollows are twisted souls that didn't pass on, like the monster from earlier. Shinigami are souls charged with guiding souls to the afterlife and purifying hollows. Quincy are spiritually aware humans with the power to fight Hollows like ya mom," the white man ends.
"Like my mom? You mean that weird bow and arrow thing she did?" Ichigo asks. "Yep," the white man replied, popping the p. " I'm ya Hollow and Shinigami powers. More specifically ya Zanpakto," repling arrogantly. Cocking his head to the side, "Zanpakto?" Ichigo asks. "Yep, I'm ya Zanpakto, but I'm also ya inner Hollow too," he says with narrowed eyes.
"Inner Hollow? Like that monster from before. Is that why you have a scary mask. What's a Inner Hollow, what's a Zanpakto?" Ichigo asks even more confused and slightly scared.
Sighing the older man speaks, "A Zanpakto is a Shinigami weapon, that when used, transforms into a unique weapon with some sort of special ability of some sort." The white man continues, "And a inner Hollow is... well a hollow in ya soul. Basically you can use Hollow power like the Cero, the cool beam attack from before."
Making an O face, Ichigo nods slowly. "Ya aren't following are ya?" The hollow replies blandly. Ichigo nods sheepishly.
Both the Hollow and Quincy just sigh.
"But what about your names?" Ichigo asks innocently causing both men to stiffen. "Well my name is Zangetsu," says hesitantly. "Zangetsu?" Ichigo asks, trying the name. The now known Zangetsu's eyes widen before howling with elation.
Ichigo jumps in surprise and looks at the older man. "Ummm, whats your name?" he asks the older man. The man stiffens once more for his shoulders sag in defeat. Zangetsu looks at his counterpart in pity with a hint of smugness.
"I have no name, I'm but a fragment of another. A mere shadow...." "That's not right!" Both men are surprised by Ichigo's outburst, "Everybody should have a name! If you don't have one then..." Ichigo slows down from his passionate outburst.
"It's fine just call me whatever," "Yeah I just call him Old Man," both men say.
Unbeknownst to everyone Ichigo's eyes flash deep red with four additional pupils in each eye.
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Somewhere a pale limbless man with slicked back black hair and four black pupils in each eye and a blank expression, has a slight upwards twitch of the corners of his mouth.
"How interesting. I'm waiting my dear sleeping soul," the man whispers in a pure monetone voice. "Let me give you a small gift."
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Ichigo's eyes return to normal and a have an almost glazed over look.
"Don't worry abou..." "Castiel," Ichigo intones. Both men are frozen in shock. "Wha..." the older man whispers.
"Castiel the Aegis, that is your name. Castiel the Shield of God," Ichigo says with complete clarity.
Suddenly a scarlet light covers Castiel, when the light fades away, Castiel now has a more youthful appearance of a young man with softer features, shorter hair. The dress shirt appears whole and undamaged with down turned collar and buttoned cuffs and the cloak now has a hood and no longer appears tattered.
Castiel looks at his now younger hands in shock and awe. Zangetsu is standing there with a wide open mouth in complete shock.
"De actual fuck?" Zangetsu mutters in shock. Before both Zangetsu and Castiel whip their heads to Ichigo now face down and passed out on the ground.
Zangetsu and Castiel turn to each other. "Well shit," the both say at the same time.
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"How is she Kisuke?" A tall built man with short black spiky hair and short stuble asks the blond man infront of him.
"Hmmm. She's doing fine actually, she lost a lot of power, but for some reason she still has most of her powers," the Kisuke says with narrowed calculating eyes. The black haired man sighs in relief before turning serious again. "And how's Ichigo, what happened?"
Kisuke regards the man with a furrowed brow, "Honestly Isshin, I'm even more confused with Ichigo than with Misaki. That spike in reiatsu his from him and it definitely had strong traces of Hollow, Quincy and Shinigami reiatsu. Fortunately he's only suffering fro..." Kisuke is cut off as a strong blast of reiatsu pulses briefly from Ichigo.
Both men regard the boy with worry and interest respectively. Isshin rushes over towards Ichigo and starts to fret and check over Ichigo in a mad panick.
"That... that was Quincy and Fullbring reiatsu. My my Kurosaki-kun, aren't we just teeming with surprises," Kisuke mutters with a fan held in front of his shadowed face.
"Aggg," a feminine voice groans causing the two men's heads to snap to the sides. "MISAKI!" Isshin jumps towards the mother. Smothering her in a bone crushing hug. "I was so worried, w-when I felt..." the man all but cries out.
Misaki with a soft and gentle if slightly pained smile, slowly rubs Isshin's back to calm and comfort him. "It's okay now, I'm fine and so is Ichigo," she says gently as she casts a quick and relieved glance at her peacefully sleeping son.
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"Now Misaki, can you tell as what happened?" Kisuke inquires seriously. A stern look crosses Isshin and Misaki's faces. Taking a deep breath she nods.
"Ichigo and I where walking home when I noticed a hollow in the river. I tried to ignore it and move past it, but Ichigo noticed the hollow's lure and charged strait down to try and 'safe' it. The hollow jumped him, or tried to atleast. I managed to get one arrow off, but 'he' made his move and took all my powers. Honestly I was expecting to die right then and there, but..." she trails off, "But?" Isshin inquires gently taking her hand in his.
Misaki gives him a soft loving smile before continuing," Ichigo he, he fired of a Cero. A low level one, but it was still strong enought to destroy half of the hollow's body. His right side was a bone bleached white, clawed fingers and, and," she starts hiccuping as she buries her face in her hands has she cries. Isshin quickly tries to comfort her.
"Oh Isshin, we passed that curse onto Ichigo, what if it takes over? I don't want to kill our son if he becomes a Hollow," she laments tearfully.
"And we won't," Isshin declares seriously, " It was a freak accident, just stimulation due to the proximity of a hollow and the danger, nothing more. Right Kisuke?" he asks the last part to the third person in the room.
Opening his fan and taking a moment to contemplate, "No, I think Ichigo should be safe, he used a lot of power and depleted most of his Reiryoku. His body and soul probably sealed off his power as a self defense mechanism."
The couple breath a sigh of relieve. "Will you be talking to him about what happened to tonight and teach him to use his power. Yoruichi should be able to get him an asauchi," Kisuke offers.
Frowning Isshin answers first, "No not yet, maybe after a few years when he is older. Honestly I'd prefer if he had nothing to do with the afterlife." "I concur," Misaki follows up Isshin's words.
Nodding, "Very well, but I'll have Yoruichi get three asauchi for the kids, just in case," Kisuke offers, getting a thankful nod from the couple.
Snapping his fan closed, Kisuke continues in a jovial if slightly childish tone, " Of course I'll give my favorite customers a good deal on the asauchi and I'll even through in this check up for free, my humble shop is always open to such prestigious customers."
Getting a giggle from Misaki and a eye roll from Isshin. None of them noting the two pairs of red eyes hidden in Ichigo's shadows.
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"Yeaahhhh, dat shit ain't gonna fly," Zangetsu replies blandly looking at his master's parents and the strange man. "Indeed, Ichigo has already awakened his powers, he will never again be able to walk the path of norma..." "Fuck that, I mean the asauchi crap, King doesn't need shit from them. I'm the only Zanpakto the king needs," Zangetsu replies hotly.
Castiel has a dangerous twitch in his left brow, glaring at Zangetsu he forms a broadsword in hand, swinging it at Zangetsu head.
"Woooaaah, ya trying to take my head of or something Castiel!?" Zangetsu demands from his quincy half after ducking the attack.
"If you have the energy to whine about worthless drivel, perhaps your time is better spent HONING YOU SKILLS!" Castiel replies angrily as he lunges at him, sword poised to take his head off.
Laughing maniacally has he summons two white menacing katana longswords with two serated edges near the bottom.
Zangetsu charges forward with arms crossed and blades past the shoulders.
Castiel thrusts his sword strait for Zangetsu's heart only to have the blade stopped between Zangetsu's two scissor crossed blades.
The hollow thrusts his horns forward charging an elliptical purple cero between his two horns. Eyes widening Castiel shoves his left index finger forward and fires a quick red arrow of reishi into the base of Zangetsu's thoat.
Panicking Zangetsu detonates the cero at point blank range, engulfing both in a massive explosion of black and purple.
Sudden Castiel bursts out of the smoke with burnt clothing and a deep scowl.
Suddenly Zangetsu appears behind Castiel without his top and cackling like a madman. "GETSUGA JUJIZO!" He shouts with mad glee, watching as the cross shaped blast of red reishi carves into Castiel's back. His sudden glee is replaced by irration as he sees a scarlet scale-mail like barrier shield between Castiel and the attack.
"Da Fuck? Since when can ya do that?" Zangetsu demands angrily. Castiel blinks owlishly at the barrier before a dangerous glint appears in his eyes.
The two glare at each other before continuing the fight followed by regular bursts of maniacal cackling.
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Groaning Ichigo slowly awakens slowly feeling increasingly exhausted. "Ichigo?" the soft voice Misaki draws his attention.
Rushing over and gently fusing over her son, Misaki lets out a sigh of relieve once again seeing her son unharmed. "I was so worried. Never run like that again, understood young man?" she questions sternly.
Ichigo rapidly nods his head, surprised to see his usually soft spoken and gentle mother so serious and stern. "Mom, what was that monster?" Ichigo questions gingerly.
A surprised look quickly passes over her face before a confused look replaces it. "Monster? Ichigo what are you talking about?" she asks worriedly.
Confusion overtakes Ichigo's features. "The green hamster with the mask," a quick look of panic quickly flashes across her face, to quick for Ichigo, but not the two pairs of red orbs in his shadow.
"Ichigo, there was no monster. You ran down a slope and tripped, going unconscious," she state slowly caressing her son's head in a soothing manner.
Ichigo's brows knit together in a confused frown. "It's been a long day sweetie, why don't go to sleep, okay. I'm sure you'll feel better," she says gently, giving him a quick peck on the forehead and tucking him back into bed, "Goodnight, Ichigo."
"Night," he mumbles in wearily. Closing his slow close, only to feel a breeze on his face.
Opening his eyes he is greeted by the same black mask from before. Two screams ensued, "AAAAHHHH!" one of fright and one of pain, as Ichigo had shove on of his fingers inside the eyesockets of the mask.
An annoyed sigh escapes of Castiel's mouth as he watches his master and counterpart's shenanigans once more. Slowly walking towards the two with raised fists. CRASH. The two collide face first with the skyscraper with two bumbs forming where he struck.
Grabbing at the back of their heads, Ichigo and Zangetsu give each other a look followed by a nod. Sensing the odd comraderie between the two, Castiel eyes the two wearily.
As one Ichigo aims for Castiel's legs and Zangetsu aims for his torso. A childish free for all brawl ensues, must to the ire of the dark clad Castiel.
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"Now that, that is done," Castiel bites out coldly, glaring at Ichigo and Zangetsu both with numerous lumps on their head, tears on the verge of the eyes and scowling pouts, both kneeling on their knees.
"Now I'm sure you have further questions, especially after talking to you mother," Castiel states. Suddenly losing all of the childish pouting and gaining an unsure look.
"Why did she act like the monster didn't exist?" He asks hesitantly. Zangetsu scoffs drawing their attention, "First off all King, it was a Hollow. And she mostly denied it, because she wanted to protect ya King. Like me and Castiel."
Getting a confused tilt of their master's head, "Zangetsu and I, both desire to protect you Ichigo. Unlike your family we," a quick scoff from Zangetsu, Castiel carries on as if he didn't hear him, "We want you grow strong enough to fight off any threat that comes your way."
Giving their master a moment to digest the information, they continue, "Ya remember that odd light that covered Mamasaki," get a slow confused nod from Ichigo, he continues, "That is what we really want to prepare ya for."
"Remember when I said I was but a fragment," get another nod, "I was refering to the King of Quincies, Yhwach?" Castiel spits out the name.
Seeing the startled look on Ichigo's face, he takes a deep breath. "Yhwach, will try and recruit you, if not he will kill you. He stripped your mother of her power, which would have killed her," a deep intake of breath can be heard from Ichigo with a terrified expression. Dark clouds can be seen gathering rapidly in the sky.
Panicking Castiel continues, "Don't worry! I shared some of our power with her to prevent her death," the clouds stops gathering but remain in the sky, " Really?" Ichigo asks tearfully. Get a nod from the dark clad spirit.
Both spirits sigh, crisis averted. "Anyway, listen King, ya need to keep this from ya folks. We need to train ya how to use ya powers. I'll be teachin ya how to use hollow powers, Castiel will be teachin ya Quincy powers," Zangetsu states.
"Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitante," Castiel stated with resolve, getting an eager smirk from Zangetsu.
For Ichigo those words would determine his life going forward, as they resound through his being. Ichigo's eyes flash pale reddish colour for a moment.